Author: tkcricket

Rotterdam storm to the title

Rod Lyall 06/07/26

Newly-renamed Rotterdam won the club’s third championship in six years on Sunday, and they did so in style, running up a near-record total of 448 for five and beating HCC at De Diepput by a whopping 269 runs.

Rotterdam dominated the match from the moment Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas took 15 runs off Daniel Crowley’s opening over, and by the end of the powerplay they had plundered 94.

With the total on 157 Minhas was eventually trapped in front by Justin Trijzelaar for 94, made from just 53 deliveries, but then Musa added a further 139 in company with Muhammad Gondal, whose 82 came from 70 deliveries.

Musa himself was finally run out for 150, made from 137 balls with eight fours and seven sixes, but still there was no relief for HCC’s weary attack, as Saqib Zulfiqar needed only 26 deliveries to smash an unbeaten 72, 58 of them in boundaries; in all, Rotterdam’s batters struck 35 fours and 24 sixes.

The total of 448 was the second-highest of the limited-overs era, surpassed only by VRA’s 455 for eight against HBS at Craeyenhout in 2023.

Gondal and Tehzeeb Haider then combined to reduce HCC to 29 for four in six and a half overs, and it seemed as if the record winning margin in Dutch limited-overs cricket might be shattered.

The middle oder, however, was able to restore some credibility to the Lions’ innings, Tim Pringle, Clayton Floyd and Josh Brown all compiling thirties, and the side reached 179, Sulaiman Tariq taking three for 63 and Ahmad Shafiq three for 31.

Less spectacularly, runners-up Voorburg completed a six-wicket victory over Kampong at Maarschalkerweerd to remain just a point behind the champions.

That Kampong managed to reach 182 was due almost entirely to Scott Edwards, who played a lone hand in making exactly 100, his second century of the season, to share the top spot in the batting aggregates with Musa Ahmad, on 638.

Edwards received little support from the rest of his side, the next highest score being Pierre Jacod’s 19, while for Voorburg it was Jaynul Islam who stood out with figures of five for 28, becoming the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 28.

Despite losing Michael Levitt in the first over and Cedric de Lange with 25 on the board, Voorburg were untroubled in reaching their target, Gavin Kaplan making 58 and sharing a thrid-wicket stand of 80 with Bas de Leede, who was unbeaten at the end with 66.

Already relegated, VOC gained some compensation by finishing their campaign with a win, beating VRA by just nine runs at the Hazelaarweg.

Their total of 220 was built around a hard-hitting 104 from Francois Fourie, but again the rest of the batting provided too little support, the next highest being Ramdas Upadhyaya’s 29 as Shariz Ahmad collected four for 50, his best return of the season.

VRA’s reply began well, Sam Cassidy (43) and Lovepreet Padda (47) putting on 71 for the first wicket, but the middle order was unable to build on their efforts, four wickets falling for 24 runs as the side slumped from 98 for two to 122 for six, Ethan Price collecting three of those wickets.

The Amsterdammers were partially rescued by Ibaad Zaidi, and then by Udit Nashier and Darsh Abhinay, who added 65 for the eighth wicket.

Then Ahsan Malik came into the attack, though, and he removed Abhinay for 30, Tharun Moorthy and Nashier (41) in quick succession to leave VRA just short.

Price finished with three for 36 and Malik three for 10.

A maiden Topklasse century by HBS opener Julien de Mey was the key to his side’s three-wicket victory over Hermes-DVS at Craeyenhout as they chased down their opponents’ 276 all out.

The Sky Blues had recovered from 45 for four to set a reasonably demanding target, Aryan Dutt top-scoring with 96, assisted by 49 from Ash Ostling and 43 from Sebastiaan Braat, while new-ball pairing Lucas del Bianco and Joris van Oosterom collected three wickets apiece for the Crows.

HBS kept pace with the asking-rate from the outset, De Mey and Reece Mason putting on 76 for the first wicket and the opener adding a further 98 with Tayo Walbrugh (38) for the second.

Then Lehan Botha smacked a 16-ball 42, and although Hermes fought back by claiming several key wickets, including De Mey’s for 101, Navjit Singh was able to ease the Crows over the line with almost seven overs to spare.

Rotterdam gain a crucial edge

Rod Lyall 05/07/26

With impeccable timing, Rotterdam slipped past championship rivals Voorburg on Saturday, and into the box seat for Sunday’s final round of matches.

To do so, they had to chase down the target of 261 set for them by VOC, and this they did with some ease, winning by seven wickets with more than twelve overs to spare.

Facing the imminent threat of relegation, their opponents had begun promisingly after winning the toss, the opening stand of 116 between Samir Butt (55) and Francois Fourie (55) the side’s first century partnership of the season for any wicket, but once they had gone the innings had subsided, the only substantial contributions Caleb Montague’s 52 and 27 from Ahsan Malik as VOC were all out for 260.

Ahmad Shafiq did the early damage, picking up three for 34, including the dangerous Jason van der Meulen, but thereafter it was Saqib Zulfiqar who cleaned up the innings, his five for 50 the third five-wicket haul of his career and leaving him needing just one more for 200 top-flight wickets.

Rotterdam’s powerful batting line-up never seemed in any serious danger of falling short of their target, but the issue was sealed by a third-wicket stand of 165 between Musa Ahmad (84) and Mohsin Riaz, whose 76-ball 117 not out included 11 fours and six sixes.

At the Boudewijn Hoek Oval in Schiedam, meanwhile, Voorburg surrendered their leading position by losing to Hermes-DVS by 29 runs.

For Voorburg, too, the day had begun well, as Aaditt Jain and Jaynul Islam reduced Hermes to 21 for three inside nine overs, but Ash Ostling and Nick Statham began a fightback which culminated in Mussayab Jamil’s unbeaten 46, and the home side scrabbled their way to 181 for eight.

Given Voorburg’s batting depth this seemed unlikely to be enough, but – not for the first time this season – the engine failed to fire, Aryan Dutt grabbing three quick wickets to leave the leaders on 38 for three, and although Bas de Leede contributed a fighting 50, when he was last out his side were still well short of their target.

Jamil capped a fine all-round performance with four for 25 and Hikmatullah Jabarkhail claimed two for 37 as Hermes moved well clear of the relegation zone.

HCC had started travelled to Maarschalkerweerd with some faint hope that victory over Kampong combined with results elsewhere going their way could take them into Sunday’s clash with Rotterdam with a sniff of the title, but any such thoughts were quickly blown away by their hosts, who bowled them out for 106 in exactly 29 overs.

Kampong skipper Alex Roy began the collapse, but all the bowlers contributed, and only an aggressive 35 from Josh Brown, batting at eight, enabled his side to achieve three figures.

Max O’Dowd fell to the first ball he faced when Kampong replied, but Damien van den Berg and Scott Edwards then knocked off the runs in double-quick time, Van den Berg finishing with 54 not out from 44 deliveries and Edwards 48 not out from 38.

The highest-scoring, and hardest-fought, match was in the Amsterdamse Bos, where VRA chased down a HBS total of 275 for three, winning by two wickets with just one ball to spare.

HBS were on a shaky 46 for three after twelve and a half overs, Sharad Hake having collected all three wickets, but they were rescued by a record-breaking stand of 229 between Lehan Botha and Kent Goedeke, the highest ever recorded for any wicket by their side and the second-best for the fourth wicket in the history of the competition.

Botha’s 142 not out was his fourth Topklasse century and his highest, coming from 130 deliveries with 16 fours and one six, while Goedeke finished on an unbeaten 94.

When VRA replied, it was Johan Smal who matched Botha’s effort with a match-winning 129; despite being severely hampered by cramp towards the end of his innings, he guided his team to within 14 runs of their target, hitting 13 fours and three sixes, and useful contributions from Adam Madgwick (32) and Udit Nashier (35 not out) enabled VRA to squeeze home.

Preview Rounds 13 & 14

Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong | 02-07-2026

Never in the long history of the Dutch top flight has the championship been decided on the first weekend of July, and it really does feel like a premature climax. Perhaps it marks the eclipse of the 50-over format by T20, in which case it is part of a much larger trend in world cricket which many of us profoundly regret. Will there be a time when the list of national champions runs from the original time cricket to a period of limited overs formats (63 overs, 60 overs, 55 overs, 50 overs) to the T20 title?

Be that as it may, there’s no doubt that this eight-team competition has been intensely competitive, and we go into the final weekend with the championship still up for grabs, and the relegation spot not quite finalised either. In the absence of play-offs at least three teams are playing only for pride, but the outcome of seven of the eight games will help to determine both issues.

Saturday

RL: Leaders Voorburg face a tricky trip to the Boudewijn Hoek Oval to face Hermes-DVS, knowing that their hosts will guarantee themselves another year in the Topklasse if they manage to take the points. Having won their last two games to ease themselves clear of VOC, Hermes are entitled to go into this one with a certain amount of optimism, but they will need to be at their absolute best against opponents who have their noses in front as they head towards the line. The return of Gavin Kaplan has made a huge contribution to Voorburg’s recent performances with the bat, and while their bowling may still have some question marks, it looks a lot sharper when Jaynul Islam is in the side.

BdJ: Worth noting that Voorburg could potentially claim the title at Harga should second-placed RCC slip up against VOC; a combination of results the Hermes will be desperate to forestall, given it’s the only one that would see them enter the last round still at risk of relegation. The chief concern for the Sky Blues will indeed be the consistent strength of Voorburg’s batting, especially now back at full strength. Kaplan’s been averaging almost 100 since his late arrival, Peter Hatzoglou is rumoured to be reinforcing this weekend, and with Dutch internationals Cedric de Lange, Noah Croes and Bas de Leede all averaging north of fifty too, Voorburg’s batting card is arguably as strong as (and indisputably very similar to) that of the national team. The VCC bowling has looked relatively weak in comparison however, with both Michael Rippon and Mees van Vliet having somewhat subdued seasons, with Hermes own enviable top order finally finding some semblance of form the Sky Blues might just be able to capitalise. The teams are at opposite ends of the table for a reason though, and though Hermes did manage to hold Voorburg to a tie away earlier in the season they’ll still start as underdogs at home on Saturday.

RL: At home to wooden-spooners VOC, Rotterdam must at least keep pace with their rivals, whom they would overtake should Hermes pull off a surprise. For the Bloodhounds, this is last-chance saloon: they will be relegated unless they can produce the shock of the season and beat Rotterdam at the Zomercomplex. They have clicked just three times this campaign, always against more fancied opponents, but it’s hard to see them doing it against a side which has a powerful top order, bats in depth, and boasts a varied attack, especially when for the latter the title is on the line.

BdJ: Depending on events at Harga, this fixture could well prove critical at one end of the table or the other. Trailing Hermes by three points (and VRA/HBS by four) the Bloodhounds path to Topklasse survival grows ever more narrow. Given their net run rate, as it stands they will need to win both their remaining games and hope other results fall their way. Despite showing some creditable fight throughout the season, most notably from new skipper Jason van der Meulen and the bowling attack, I’d agree VOC besting Rotterdam in their own back yard would be the upset of the season. The Rotterdammers have looked nigh-unstoppable with bat in hand, and while VCC have twice outscored them only HCC have managed to contain them thus far.

RL: Currently fourth and third, Kampong and HCC meet at Maarschalkerweerd in an encounter which is more important for the visitors, whose hopes of a miracle depend on their going on winning and results going their way elsewhere. The hosts have definitely gone off the boil as their hopes of retaining their title have ebbed away, and the departure of Lachlan Bangs certainly hasn’t helped their cause. HCC, on the other hand, have if anything improved in the back half of the season, although they have been distinctly more impressive bowling first and chasing.

BdJ: The 2025 champions really haven’t looked anything like their best of late, sinking to defeats against Hermes last week and VRA the week before, but then it’s worth noting HCC lost to both those sides recently too. Kampong’s problems seem to run a tad deeper though, beset by mounting injuries and unavailabilities all season that not even Max O’Dowd’s return to domestic form could paper over, of which Bangs is only the most recent. An in-touch O’Dowd along with Edwards and Jacod still makes facing Kampong away a tough proposition, and all will likely get a tune-up in this week’s pro-series game. Alex Roy’s return has also shored up the bowling side somewhat, but HCC has there opponents outgunned in that department at this point, with Brown currently topping the League wicket-tallies and Crowley racking up a personal best last week, while Tim Pringle is also back in the country and available ahead of the international (and franchise) season. HCC still need a lot to go right for them to find themselves in with a chance at the title come the final round, but for now at least it’s partly in their hands.

RL: Many might call this a dead rubber, but for those of use who believe there’s no such thing, the visit of HBS to the Amsterdamse Bos to take on VRA is about which of these sides might squeeze into the top half of the table at the expense of Kampong, who are two points ahead of the home side at this point and who have an almost identical NRR. Their mid-table positions reflect the fact that both sides have blown hot and cold all summer, although the hosts can probably claim to have greater strength in depth, especially given the indifferent form of Tayo Walbrugh and the inconsistency of Lehan Botha.

BdJ: Admittedly a match that’s unlikely to matter much in the scheme of things, but it should be pointed out that neither side are arithmetically safe from relegation at this point. A victory on Saturday would certainly see the winner safe even in the case of unlikely results elsewhere, while the loser could still theoretically start the final round in danger. VRA have weathered some misfortunes well this season, and a mid-table finish without most all their best bowlers from last season and this one would be an achievement in itself. Their threadbare attack was rather exposed by VCC last week, but even with Tayo Walbrugh finally finding some runs it’s questionable whether HBS have the firepower to take the same advantage. That said the Crows were able to restrict a full strength VRA side to 261 early in the season and chase comfortably at Craeyenhout. While this may prove the least consequential of the day’s fixtures, it may well also be the most closely contested.

Sunday

RL: What will be at stake at De Diepput on Sunday is anybody’s guess: should HCC win on Saturday and Rotterdam lose, then the Lions would go into this game just one point in arrears, and if Voorburg had lost as well, a last-minute grab at the title would be on the cards. A lot of ifs, yes, but however they are resolved this looks certain to be The Game of the Final Round. Arguably, HCC’s home ground suits Rotterdam’s big hitters even better than their own, but we shouldn’t forget that in their previous meeting, at the Zomercomplex, HCC dismissed their previously-rampant opponents for just 120. A trick they will certainly be keen to repeat on Sunday.

BdJ: Should results fall HCC’s way on Saturday this could indeed have the makings of a thriller, HCC’s net run rate advantage over VCC meaning should they end up level on points Voorburg’s run of narrow wins punctuated by a couple of very heavy defeats will tell against them. That said of course it could equally be a dead rubber. Most likely only Rotterdam that will will have something at stake and will consequently be the side under the greatest pressure, and who better than the Lions to play for pride?

RL: On one scenario, Voorburg are already champions and Sunday’s game at Westvliet becomes a victory lap; in another, everything is on the line as they take on Kampong with hopes of succeeding them. Both these sides have been at the top of the table at some point this season, but more recently they have headed in different directions: Voorburg have settled into a much more consistent pattern – not least because of Kaplan’s presence – while Kampong have never really recovered from the national selectors’ raid on their squad, losing their last four games. Or possibly five.

BdJ: In all but one scenario there will at least be something to celebrate at Maarschalkerweerd on Sunday, and in any event no doubt a cracking mid-season end-of-season party – tempered only by looming pro-series commitments for a fair portion of participants. There’s every chance though that the game itself will be a live one only for Voorburg, and while some sides have improved with the pressure off Kampong look like they’ve been going through the motions since their chances of retaining the championship receded. Voorburg made fairly light work of a full strength and fully motivated Kampong earlier in the season, and it’s difficult to imagine a different result in their final game.

RL: Once again, the significance of the game at Craeyenhout between HBS and Hermes-DVS will depend on what happens on Saturday: if VOC lost then Hermes will be safe, but if the Bloodhounds pulled off a miracle and Hermes lost, then this will be a must-win for the Schiedammers. Both sides have potential match-winners, but they also have palpable weaknesses, and if this match turns out to be really meaningful, it may hinge on who steps up when it really matters. The Crows have a crop of youngsters, a resource Hermes seemingly lack, and it’s possible that we will see more of them on Sunday as they start to look towards the T20 competition.

BdJ: Arithmetically there’s still a chance that if things go very badly wrong for HBS that they may have have a live NRR spreadsheet running for this game, though with a margin of about 300 runs on NRR over VOC chances are they’ll be safe enough by the time Sunday rolls around. The reverse fixture went down to the wire at Harga earlier in the summer, but on home astro one would be tempted to back the Crows.

RL: It would be a pretty extraordinary piece of Houdini-ism were VOC to finish their campaign with victories over Rotterdam and VRA and contrive to avoid playing Hoofdklasse cricket next season. But having survived a play-off last year to stay up, the Bloodhounds have had another disappointing season, and it seems most likely that whatever’s at stake, it will be the visitors who return to Amstelveen with the points.

BdJ: I’d actually say that if by some combination of derring-do and good luck VOC found themselves in a position where a win in their final game might see them survive, I’d probably back them to do it. It would imply that they were coming off the back of a much more improbable win over Rotterdam the day before and that fortune is in their favour, while VRA will (barring some absolutely absurd scorelines against them) have nothing but position to play for. Both paper strength and form points to a VRA victory though, both on run of results this season and past precedent for season finale dogfights between the two sides.

RL’s tips:
Saturday: Voorburg, Rotterdam, HCC, VRA
Sunday: HCC, Voorburg, Hermes, VRA.

BdJ’s tips:
Saturday: Voorburg, Rotterdam, HCC, HBS
Sunday: HCC, Voorburg, HBS, VRA

.

Voorburg and Rotterdam take it down to the wire

Rod Lyall 28/06/26

Voorburg and Rotterdam took their battle for the Topklasse title down to the final blockbuster weekend with comfortable victories on Saturday, while HCC gave themselves at least a mathematical chance of overtaking them both with a win in the day’s shortest encounter.

But to snatch the championship the Lions would have to win both their matches next weekend, against Kampong and Rotterdam, while Voorburg would need to lose to both Hermes-DVS and Kampong and Rotterdam would need to be beaten by VOC as well as by HCC. Snowballs in Hell probably have better prospects.

Leaders Voorburg posted the day’s highest total on Saturday, their 282 for two at Westvliet overhauling VRA’s 280 for seven with 20 deliveries to spare.

The Amsterdammers’ top order had set them up for a solid total, Sam Cassidy (87) and Lovepreet Padda (57) putting on 122 for the first wicket in 29 and a half overs, and then Johan Smal (40 from 37 deliveries), jack Cassidy (33 from 19) and Ibaad Zaidi (28 not out from 15) pushed on to set their hosts a run rate in excess of five and a half an over.

Michael Levitt hit a brisk 40 when Voorburg replied, and then Cedric de Lange and Gavin Kaplan took over, adding 161 for the second wicket as VRA’s bowlers suffered even more than their opponents’ attack had done.

De Lange eventually fell for 93, just missing out on his fourth century of the season, but Kaplan continued in company with Bas de Leede, hitting back-to-back boundaries to complete the win and finish on exactly 100, his second hundred in four innings, this one made from 93 deliveries with twelve fours.

At Craeyenhout, HBS battled their way to 208 for eight against Rotterdam, most of those runs coming from Tayo Walbrugh (49) and Lucas del Bianco, who continued his purple patch with an unbeaten 89 after coming in at a precarious 59 for four.

Most of the damage had been done by Muhammad Gondal, who removed both openers and the dangerous Lehan Botha and finished with three for 32.

Rotterdam were never in any real trouble in their chase, although the decisive contribution was a fourth-wicket stand of 106 between Mohsin Riaz (52 not out) and Saqib Zulfiqar (50), which took their side to within 11 runs of their target.

Sikander Zulfiqar then helped Riaz knock off the balance, and Rotterdam won by six wickets with 18.4 overs to spare, further enhancing their already-impressive net run rate.

Daniel Crowley recorded a career-best six for 31 at De Diepput as HCC dismissed relegation-threatened VOC for 142 in exactly 30 overs, Jason van der Meulen again the Bloodhounds’ top scorer with a defiant 42-ball 46.

Then Teun Kloppenburg effectively settled the issue with a remarkable 49 from just 16 deliveries, including four fours and five sixes, making opening partner Tonny Staal’s 20-ball 33 seem positively sedate, and although Ramdas Upadhyaya picked up three for 29 and Ahsan Malik two for 34, HCC raced to a five-wicket victory in 22.3 overs, boosting their NRR and keeping their slim hopes of a 48th men’s title at least theoretically alive.

VOC’s plight was further exacerbated by Hermes-DVS’s five-wicket win against Kampong at Maarschalkerweerd, which lifted the Schiedammers three points clear of their Rotterdam rivals and effectively clear of relegation.

VOC now need to win both their final games, against Rotterdam and VRA, and hope that Hermes are unable to pick up the two points they would require to stay ahead; in reality, given the teams’ NRRs, one point would almost certainly be enough for Hermes.

Kampong’s 228 for five on Saturday was largely built on a third-wicket stand of 91 between Dutch internationals Max O’Dowd (53) and Scott Edwards, who went on to end the innings on 96 not out, having added another 90 with skipper Alex Roy (34 not out).

But Daniel Doyle, who made made 49 before he was stumped by Edwards – taking over the gloves from Damien van den Berg for this game – and Ash Ostling, unbeaten on 74, steered Hermes to victory, Aryan Dutt chipping in with a useful 38.

Preview Round 12

Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong | 24-06-2026

27 June may well prove to be the Day of the Banana-Skins, as the current top four all face bottom-four opponents in a round where any surprises could have a big effect on the final standings. It’s a pity that there are no play-offs this season, since with only two points separating third from sixth, all four games would have been crucial had the mid-table sides been battling for a place in the semi-finals. That’s a missed opportunity, but with three of the bottom four winning last week there’s still plenty to look forward to.

RL: This week’s leaders, Voorburg, are at home to fifth-placed VRA, who effectively ended Kampong’s remaining hopes of defending their title last Saturday. Their meeting back in May had a sensational conclusion when VRA lost four wickets for two runs and threw away a match they seemed to have in their pockets, but they have been much more consistent since then and will be aiming to topple their hosts at Westvliet. Even the loss of Vikram Singh hasn’t thrown them off their stride, with Sharad Hake providing a cutting edge with the new ball and Ibaad Zaidi and now Jack Cassidy giving greater strength to the middle order. No doubt delighted to have their internationals back, Voorburg recovered from a shaky start to chase down Rotterdam’s 320 last Saturday, and if there are questions about the efficacy of their bowling, their ability to bat deep and productively may stand them in good stead.

BdJ: Last week’s result at the Bos will have been a relief for the hosts, but it does make things a little less interesting at both ends of the table. VRA are effectively out of the woods and free to play spoiler in their next three games, which could all prove crucial to their opponents’ hopes of survival or, as is the case this week, claiming the title. Voorburg will likely prove a sterner test than an understrength and rather ragged-looking Kampong were last Saturday though, even if they haven’t quite worked out where to source their optimal fifty overs from. It’s worth pointing out that even on the bowling side of things VCC still have the likes of Aaditt Jain on the bench, who was a first team regular at VRA and would likely make the current team too. While the hosts are arguably spoilt for choice VRA have been getting the most out of dwindling resources, but both sides have looked better with the bat of late, and with scorching temperatures expected this (and indeed every match this weekend) may well come down to who can better endure a long day chasing leather in the baking sun.

RL: Relegated to second spot but hoping to take advantage of any slip-up by their rivals, Rotterdam travel to Craeyenhout to take on HBS. There is no doubt whatsoever about the power of the Rotterdammers’ batting line-up, but there may be some concern about the effectiveness of the attack as a wicket-taking unit after that defeat by Voorburg, especially when Sikander Zulfiqar is unable to supplement the pace of Carl Mumba and the economical seam bowling of Sulaiman Tariq. When they’re batting, however, the primary task of opposing bowlers is to keep them under 300, and that will be no easy assignment for Kyle Klein and his colleagues, the progress made by Joris van Oosterom notwithstanding. Of the regular bowlers only he and Benno Boddendijk have gone at under five an over this season, and while allowance must be made for the fact that they play their home games at Craeyenhout, they may have trouble containing their visitors to a total within the scope of a batting line-up which has largely been held together by Kent Goedeke and Lucas del Bianco.

BdJ: Given that they’re reliably making 300+ every time they get a chance, Rotterdam have rarely needed to bowl particularly well to rack up wins so far this season. Voorburg have been the only side to match them boundary for boundary so far, though it’s worth noting HBS did rack up a big 300-plusser of their own at home VOC early in the season, and have on occasion chased down substantial 250+ scores even without any substantial contribution from their run-starved skipper. Walbrugh staging a sudden escape from slumpsville could potentially shift the odds given an RCC bowling attack that has been somewhat off the boil, but fair to say the Crows start as outsiders.

RL: HCC’s defeat by Hermes last week pretty much put an end to any putative title challenge, but they will be keen to consolidate their position in the top half of the table when they take on VOC at De Diepput. The Bloodhounds have come frustratingly close in the last two games after beating a below-strength Kampong on 6 June, but they will need to be at their best against a HCC side no doubt smarting after throwing away what seemed like certain victory against Hermes. The experiment of switching Caleb Montague from keeper to bowler didn’t come off against HBS, and generally speaking VOC have had considerable difficulty in settling upon an optimal disposal of their admittedly limited resources. HCC, by contrast, have a very steady outfit, no fewer than ten of their squad having played in at least ten of their games. If the batting has something of a bits-and-pieces quality, the bowling remains the key to the side’s performances, Josh Brown now the leading wicket-taker in the competition and Justin Trijzelaar and Daniel Crowley giving him great support.

BdJ: Yep fair to say that, broadly speaking, the games where HCC collected points this season have been won with the ball rather than the bat. Tonny Staal has quietly had an excellent season in the opening slot, but the rest of the senior bats’ contributions have been more modest. Gorlee’s own role has arguably been limited by his dropping down the order, and a case might be made for the skipper coming in earlier, though there’s also plenty to be said for keeping young Kloppenberg and Banerjee where they are at this point in the season. For VOC meanwhile getting their combinations right is imperative, with the prospect of relegation looming and assignments only getting tougher from here.

RL: Similarly Kampong, top of the table four weeks ago, are now firmly in the middle, and will welcome to Maarschalkerweerd a Hermes-DVS side desperate to stay ahead of VOC and out of the relegation spot. The defending champions clearly missed skipper Alex Roy against VRA last week, but in truth the problems go deeper than that. Lorenzo Ingram’s contributions have been limited, especially since his return from injury, and with 226 of Max O’Dowd’s 313 runs having come in just two innings and Damien van den Berg yet to pass 50, the batting has tended to rely too much on Scott Edwards and the admirable Pierre Jacod. Hermes, one feels, are potentially a better side than their lowly position suggests, even if the batting is rather top-heavy and the bowling at times expensive. This game may well prove closer than the current table suggests, and if Kampong are at anything below their best it may be the most likely to provide an upset.

BdJ: The defending champions have admittedly been hampered by mounting injury and availability issues, but even accounting for at times enforced changes they’ve looked to be on something of a slide as the season wears on. They’ll be further hampered now by the loss of Lachlan Bangs, their stand-out bowler last week, who’s returned to Australia. Hermes will indeed have an opportunity on Saturday if they can take advantage, though the Sky Blues have also looked less than the sum of their parts this season. They will however be back to full strength again and, one imagines, the more motivated of the two sides in what is likely to be a grueling encounter in the heat.

RL’s picks: Voorburg, Rotterdam, HCC, Hermes

BdJ’s picks: Voorburg, Rotterdam, HCC, Kampong

Thrillers abound as Voorburg edge another runfest

Rod Lyall 21/06/26

With three of Saturday’s matches remaining undecided until the final over, one could scarcely ask for a more competitive Topklasse, or for more pulsating cricket.

The most significant result, perhaps, came at the Zomercomplex, where after a shaky start Voorburg successfully chased down Rotterdam’s 320 for seven, their fifth 300-plus total of the season.

On their previous encounter, at Westvliet on 14 May, these teams had smashed between them, in a match halved by rain, 461 runs in 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets; now, with the weather playing a more marginal role, they produced 641 runs in 99.4 overs.

Put in to bat, Rotterdam could thank Mohsin Riaz, who hit 90 at almost a run a ball, and Saqib Zulfiqar, whose unbeaten 86 required just 70 deliveries, for their relatively comfortable position at the innings break, and when Carl Mumba and Muhammad Gondal reduced Voorburg to 35 for two the leaders appeared to be heading for what would have been a crucial victory.

That was the cue, however, for a 172-run stand for the third wicket between Gavin Kaplan, whose 130 was his seventh and highest Topklasse century, and Bas de Leede, who contributed 54.

114 were still required from 80 deliveries when Musa Ahmad removed De Leede, and when Kaplan, too, departed, the equation was 95 from 61.

Rotterdam were seemingly back in the game, but a spirited stand between Noah Croes and Ryan Klein kept the scoreboard rattling along, and although Musa eventually removed Klein for a 26-ball 39 and Ahmad Shafiq dismissed Michael Rippon soon afterwards, Croes continued until the scores were level before departing for a match-winning 58 from 38 deliveries.

By now the match was in its final over, but Waseem Mohsen was able to conjure the winning single with two balls remaining, and Voorburg returned to the top of the table.

That excitement was fully matched by the relegation-zone clash on the other side of Rotterdam, where VOC achieved their highest total of the season, running up 253 against HBS before they were all out off the final ball of their allotted 50 overs.
‘
Caleb Montague top-scored with 78, Ethan Price contributed 40, and – not for the first time – Ahsan Malik hit a useful 35 in the closing stages; there were two wickets apiece for seamers Joris van Oosterom and Benno Boddendijk.

The Crows’ reply was in trouble at 78 for four withj Tayo Walburgh and Lehan Botha both among those back in the dugout, but Kent Goedeke and Lucas del Bianco turned the innings around with a fifth-wicket stand of 172, taking their side to within four runs of their target before Jason van der Meulen returned to bowl the final over.

With his first delivery he removed Del Bianco for 66, but Goedeke had reached a maiden Topklasse century, and from Van der Meulen’s penultimate delivery he struck the winning boundary, finishing on 108 not out, made from 105 balls with eight fours.

Of the three tight finishes, perhaps the most remarkable came at the Boudewijn Hoek Oval in Schiedam, where home side Hermes-DVS pulled off a last-minute, six-run victory over HCC.

With a delayed start after overnight rain, Hermes captain Sebastiaan Braat may have regretted his decision to bat first, as his top order struggled in bowler-friendly conditions against a disciplined HCC attack.

Batting at three, Ash Ostling made 96 for the Sky Blues, but he took 41 deliveries to get into double figures, and with his partners, including the normally-aggressive Olivier Elenbaas, also finding the going tough, after 27 overs the total was only 80 for three.

Ostling now accelerated, supported in the closing stages by a brisk 29 from Braat himself, and Hermes closed on 221 for six.

HCC had reached 22 for no loss in five overs when rain drove the players from the field, and after a prolonged delay their innings was cut to 34 overs, with a revised DLS target of 182.

They reached 92 before Shirsak Banerjee fell to an outstanding catch by Daniel Doyle-Calle, and two more wickets fell for the addition ofjust six runs, including Tonny Staal for a 47-ball 61.

The runs now began to dry up, and although Boris Gorlee worked hard with the middle order, with six overs left 32 were still required with four wickets in hand.

The Hermes bowlers maintained the pressure, and 12 were still needed with two overs remaining.

Kothari now dismissed first Daniel Crowley and then Thijs Vrolijk with successive deliveries, and HCC went into the final over with nine still required.

Two runs later Gorlee fell for 30, and although last man Teun Leijer managed to hit Mussayab Jamil to midwicket, the batters’ attempt to run a second proved in vain as Braat’s return to keeper David Rushmere was too quick for Leijer.

HCC had lost four wickets in six deliveries for the addition of three runs, and Hermes had completed a victory which lifted them off the bottom of the table.

An almost single-handed knock of 136 by Max O’Dowd was not enough to bring Kampong victory against VRA in the Amsterdamse Bos, as his side was only able to reach 249 for eight in reply to their hosts’ 284 for eight.

VRA had struggled early on, but their innings was turned around by a sixth-wicket stand of 116 between keeper Jack Cassidy (87) and Ibaad Zaidi (56), and although Lachlan Bangs claimed three for 58 and Saurabh Zalpuri three for 71, Lorenzo Ingram contributing an economical stint and going for just 27 from his ten overs, the home side passed 250 for the fourth time this season.

Kampong lost Damien van den Berg off the first ball of their reply, the first of three wickets for their seam spearhead Sharad Hake, who also had Scott Edwards caught behind for a duck and whose spell of three for 15 in eight overs set his side decisively on the path to victory.

Pierre Jacod (57 at a run a ball) helped O’Dowd add 93 for the fourth wicket, but the runs were coming too slowly, and when Jacod departed 157 were still required from the final 20 overs.
Even O’Dowd’s hitting was insufficient for that task, and although he struck six sixes and as many fours in his 136, when he was dismissed in the penultimate over Kampong were still 43 shy of their target.

The defeats for HCC and Kampong leave them four points behind leaders Voorburg with three rounds remaining, and barring an extraordinary denouement the title race now appears to be reduced to two contenders, Voorburg and Rotterdam, while at the other end of the table the relegation battle is effectively between Hermes and VOC.

Preview Round 11

Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong | 17-06-2026

Just eight points apiece up for grabs now, with only three points separating first from fourth and fifth from eighth. From which you might conclude that (a) there are going to be quite a few four-pointers in the next three weeks, and (b) that there is, after all, a good deal to be said for the eight-team model. Teams should be back to full strength for this final run-in, and it’s all set to be an extremely interesting sprint down the home straight.

RL: For the second week in a row, leaders Rotterdam take on their nearest challengers, Voorburg having leap-frogged Kampong as a result of last Saturday’s matches. The visitors squeezed three points out of their two games without their internationals, and will be relieved to have skipper Noah Croes, openers Cedric de Lange and Michael Levitt, and middle-order batter Bas de Leede back in the side for what is certain to be their biggest challenge of the second half of the campaign. The sides’ previous meeting, of course, was that extraordinary 25-over game on 14 May, which produced 461 runs in 50 overs, including De Lange’s 63-ball 125, and the Rotterdammers’ first defeat of the season, and Sikander Zulfiqar’s side will be very keen indeed to avenge that defeat this time. Since then their already-powerful batting line-up has been strengthened by the advent of Abdul Rehman Niazi, and Voorburg’s bowlers will doubtless have their work cut out to contain the Rotterdammers’ top order, while their own, largely restored batters will have to deal with an extremely testing attack. In the absence of play-offs, this could well prove to be the match of the season.

BdJ: Indeed given the state of the table this looks the fixture most likely to prove decisive when the time comes to total up the points and dole out the silverware. After having to dip into the reserves over the last couple of weeks, Voorburg find themselves facing some tricky selection decisions now, with Waseem Mohsen having laid indisputable claim to his spot, Don Glover making runs last week and Tom de Leede also impressing on return. Conversely the international contingent are all a tad short of cricket, which of course is not a game one can reasonably expect to play at King City. De Lange nonetheless impressed after being thrown into the deepest of deep ends on ODI debut, and at full strength Voorburg are arguably the only side in the league that have batting to match the Rotterdammers. Questions remain about the bowling side of things for both sides however, with neither looking entirely sure of their best attack and, barring Saqib Zulfiqar and Jaynul Islam, both team’s front line attack rather upstaged by their part-timers. If Voorburg’s quicks can fire however, HCC’s seam section did show that RCC can be vulnerable early at home.

RL: Now in third place on net run rate and three points behind the leaders, HCC travel to the renamed Boudewijn Hoek Oval to face Hermes-DVS. Their hosts will perhaps be the happiest of all about the return of their internationals, who will add incisiveness to their attack and take some of the weight of run-scoring from the shoulders of David Rushmere, who carried the batting almost single-handed while they were away. The Sky Blues will have to face both Kampong and Voorburg before finishing their campaign against HBS, and they will breathe much easier if they are able to pick up two points here. HCC, however, have won six of their last eight games, and with a rejuvenated Tonny Staal scoring consistently at the top of the order and Boris Gorlee at his best against HBS last week, they will travel to Schiedam with plenty of confidence. We have repeatedly sung the praises of their attack, and even Rushmere will need to be in top form if Hermes are to have a chance.

BdJ: Hermes might be excused for wondering whether it was really necessary to deprive them of their captain and pace spearhead for the last two weeks given that Logan van Beek ended up getting flown in to play ahead of either of them, but will certainly be happy to welcome them back for what is indeed a must-win for them on Saturday. They’ll also be hoping Daniel Doyle-Calle’s ankle sprain won’t keep him out another week, and that what remains a formidable batting line up finally delivers on its potential. They’ll be coming up against an HCC seam attack that has consistently delivered, even in the absence of Hidde Overdijk. On form the hosts will start as underdogs on home turf, but may take comfort from the fact that despite their winning run HCC still have a losing record on grass this season.

RL: Straddling the gulf between top four and bottom four, the encounter in the Amsterdamse Bos is between VRA, for whom the priority is staying clear of the relegation zone, and Kampong, who cannot afford another defeat if they are to have a realistic chance of retaining their title. Centuries for both Sam Cassidy and Teja Nidamanuru against Hermes last week suggested that the Amsterdammers’ season is perhaps coming together despite the loss of Vikram Singh, and it was a bonus for them to see Sharad Hake getting among the wickets early. Kampong just squeezed home at Maarschalkerweerd on 14 May, and they will hope for a much greater contribution from their top order in this return match. It’s a fair bet that Max O’Dowd and Scott Edwards will find batting conditions in the Amsterdamse Bos a good deal more congenial than those in King City, and despite the four-point gap between the teams on the current table, this too seems likely to be a very even battle.

BdJ: VRA will doubtless be thankful that they were spared the loss of their skipper for the last couple of rounds, and doubtless Nidamanuru and Shariz Ahmad have been enjoying thier time at the Nordic Smash this week rather more than anyone has ever enjoyed anything at the jumped-up landfill that the (thankfully suspended) clowns at Cricket Canada are somehow still successfully passing off as an ODI ground. Ahem. On the assumption that VRA’s captain/manager at least will duck out early should Stockholm make Saturday’s final, the hosts will have a substantial advantage in terms of bats in form. Singh’s misadventure in Canada does still leave a hole in the bowling though, as despite already missing two rounds he still has more than twice the wickets of anyone else in the attack, at half the average. Kampong meanwhile will also welcome back their skipper, who himself impressed on debut for the Dutch. The recent run of results may not be on their side, but I’d still make the defending champions favourites at full strength on Saturday.

RL: One of the gilt-edged four-pointers will be at the Hazelaarweg, where VOC are at home to HBS Craeyenhout. Just a point ahead of Hermes, this is perhaps the best opportunity of their last four games for the Bloodhounds, who will have been desperately disappointed to miss out on victory over a below-strength Voorburg last week. VOC’s batters passed 200 for only the fourth time in that game, and while their top and middle order often get a start, they have seldom been able to bat on and make a truly significant contribution. There have also been selection issues, but the team looks a little better-balanced (and a good deal more experienced) with the return of Tim de Kok and of Pierce Fletcher. For HBS, the form of Tayo Walbrugh has been another recurring theme on these virtual pages: with just 180 runs at 20.00 he has been a shadow of the player who averaged 59 or better in each of the five previous seasons, and although Lucas del Bianco, Kent Goedeke and at times Lehan Botha have taken up some of the slack, the Crows will be hoping that their captain’s undoubted class is in evidence in the closing rounds.

BdJ: Walbrugh’s run of poor form has at least spared him the ordeal of a trip to the very worst international cricket ground in the world, but now that the threat of being picked for a tour to King City has passed one might suggest it’s a good time to start making some runs. Though currently three points clear of the wooden spoon spot, after the Crows only have games against frontrunners RCC and then VRA away at the Bos to come before a potential showdown against relegation-slot incumbents Hermes in the final round. The relegation tussle might thus be said to start in earnest this week, and though HBS have arguably underperformed all season while VOC have looked to be slowly strengthening, it would be a surprise to see them on equal points this time next week.

RL’s picks: Rotterdam, HCC, Kampong, HBS.

BdJ’s picks: Voorburg, HCC, Kampong HBS.