Category: Preview

 
Bertus de Jong 25/08/18 

The business of the season is done, VOC are deserved champions, last week Punjab’s last hope of survival was snuffed out, and indeed for most of the mid-table there’s been little but pride on the line for a while. There’s still a round to finish however, as the ten teams all look to sign off on a high.

Punjab Rotterdam will play their final Topklasse match until 2020 at least against their erstwhile relegation rivals Quick Haag, who secured their safety with a win over HBS last week. Quick’s captain, coach and MVP Jay Bista has an outside shot at breaking 1,000 runs for the season, needing 147 to reach the milestone, whilst returning veteran Edgar Schiferli needs three wickets to pass Luuk van Troost and claim second place in the all-time Topklasse wickets standings. Such statistical considerations aside, what could have been a tense relegation play-off is just an opportunity to banish memories of a disappointing season for both sides.

Meanwhile ACC, whose season has been little better, need only turn up to play Sparta 1888 to avoid a wooden spoon finish, and judging by last week’s performance they probably need the motivation. Mudassar Bukhari, currently joint top with Dosti’s Mohammad Hafeez as top wicket-taker for the season, will be looking to add to his 34 wicket tally when he runs in against his old club, who could certainly have used him this season. A top-5 finish is still notionally within reach for Sparta, though they’d need a tie or a wash-out at de Diepput to get there.

Though the weather’s taken an appropriate turn for the damp and dreary at the fag end of the season, neither outcome is terribly likely when HCC take on Dosti-United. The departure of Taru Kohli has seen Dosti’s fortunes declineafter a strong start to the season, and HCC will start as favourites in front of a home crowd. Young Hidde Overdijk is still in contention for the top spot on the wicket-taking table, whilst Tonny Staal needs only a half-decent knock to break 500 runs, the performance of both gives HCC hope of a better showing next year, though as predicted they have missed Jonathan Vandiar’s runs.

In the meantime Craeyenhout will witness the battle for bronze when fourth-placed HBS welcome third-placed Excelsior ’20. James Hilditch’s ill-advised return has strengthened Excelsior’s line-up even as it has aggravated his hamstring, but if HBS’ thus-far misfiring top order manage to go out with a bang the crow crowd will likely go into hibernation happy.

The day’s final game is the final that might have been, as champions VOC Rotterdam head to the Bos to take on runners-up VRA. It’s been quite a turnaround for both sides since they were playing off for the wooden spoon just two years ago, but VRA stumbling out of the blocks against Quick and HCC in their first two games more-or-less cost them a shot at the title in the end. They’ll back themselves to bag some bragging rights at least in their final match. Though VOC are not champions without good reason, they have looked more vulnerable away from home. Whoever takes the honours tomorrow the match-up is doubtless the match of the day.

BdJ’s Tips I guess just enjoy yourselves and try not to worry about how pointless it all seems.

Rod Lyall and Bertus de Jong 16/08/18

With the championship now in the hands of VOC Rotterdam, the remaining interest in the Topklasse shifts to the lower reaches of the table, where fellow-Rotterdammers Punjab still have an outside chance of avoiding relegation.

RL: Punjab’s first task is, however, massive, as they must take on the new champions at Hazelaarweg. VOC have demonstrated the kind of resilience which took Excelsior to the title in the past two seasons: even when not playing particularly well, they have the knack of finding someone to produce the match-winning performance. Last week it was Pierce Fletcher with the bat and Bobby Hanif with the ball, but everyone in the side has delivered at some stage in a notable winning streak. Punjab at last found heroes other than Myburgh and Raza against Dosti last Sunday, but with the official handover of the trophy planned for Hazelaarweg it won’t be easy for Mamoon Latif and Asif Khan – or anyone else in the side – to reproduce that sort of effort against Pieter Seelaar’s side.

BdJ: Punjab’s remarkable win last week means they will most likely take their hopes of Topklasse survival into the final round, and they’re in with a real shot of setting up a de facto relegation play-off against Quick in their last game. Besting the new Champions away would significantly improve their odds, and given that VOC’s job is effectively done and several of the squad are carrying injuries there’s a decent chance they will rest players on Sunday. If Punajb can pull off an upset against their Rotterdam rivals their fate will be in their own hands heading into the final round, but even a below strength VOC will take some beating on their own turf.

RL: The Rotterdammers’ nearest rivals in the relegation race, ACC are at home to HCC at Het Loopveld West, and after last week’s final-over defeat at the hands of Excelsior this is a game they absolutely have to win. As always, it will probably be down to some combination of Zulfiqars to make that possible, although Shirase Rasool’s contribution last Sunday may be evidence that the younger brigade is beginning to settle into the Topklasse. Having dismissed VRA for 153, HCC seemed down and out until Douwe Walhain produced the innings of a lifetime, but Tonny Staal will be looking for his side to take a more conventional route to victory this time. In Hidde Overdijk and Ali Ahmed Qasim the Hagenaars have the new-ball attack to unsettle the ACC top order, and that will surely be the key.

BdJ: ACC need at least 2 points from their next two games to be safe, and will not want to head to Bermweg next week with relegation still on the line. Raza and Rasool have both begun to grow into their roles in the side this season, but the Amsterdammers remain rather Zulfiqar-dependent. HCC have blown rather hot and cold this season, knocking over top table sides but conversely showing themselves capable of losing to anyone, and ACC came out on top at de Diepput in their last encounter. Nevertheless the visitors have momentum on their side as they head to het Loopveld, and ACC every reason to be nervous.

RL: Not yet completely out of danger, Quick Haag have what is nominally a home fixture against neighbours HBS Craeyenhout, but they will instead make the short journey through the Bosjes van Pex to their rivals’ ground. Now the league’s leading run-scorer, Jay Bista remains their trump card, but it’s hard to see the Quick attack causing the sort of problems to the HBS top order that VOC were able to do last week. For Tobias Visée and his men, of course, the challenge will be to lift themselves after the disappointment of that defeat, but second place on the table is still up for grabs, and one would hope that that would be sufficient incentive for HBS to stage a big finish in this, the club’s 125th anniversary year.

BdJ: What was always likely to be a “transitional” year for Quick has turned out even tougher than expected as injuries, retirements and departures have left them struggling to field a competitive side. Even Bista – the season’s nailed-on MVP – has not been able to drag them out of danger, and they have work to do if they’re to avoid a transition to the Hoofdklasse. With help from VOC they may be able to secure safety on Sunday, but even a disappointed and thus far disappointing HBS side will be heavy favourites at Craeyenhout. Again the hosts’ own injury niggles may prevent them from fielding a full strength side, especially as the format has left them little to play for, but all the pressure will be on Quick come Sunday, and they will likely need than Bista, Mol and motivation to bag two points at Craeyenhout.

RL: Elsewhere, honour and final rankings are the only issues at stake – not that either of these is unimportant in itself. VRA Amsterdam are at Sportpark Drieburg to take on Dosti United. They, too, have to cope with last week’s double disappointment: another poor batting display, followed by HCC’s extraordinary recovery after the Amsterdammers seemingly had them on the ropes. Dosti, too, managed to lose a game they seemed well on the way to winning, and they will need Anees Davids to contribute more against VRA than he was able to do against Punjab. At their best, VRA are more than a match for any side in the competition, and with Dosti clearly missing Taruwar Kohli it’s hard to see the home side taking the points.

BdJ: It’s remarkable given VRA’s poor start to the season and consistently inconsistent batting that they were able to take their title challenge as deep as they did, and it will be interesting to see whether the are able to perform any better under a total lack of pressure. On paper a Dosti side lacking Kohli should be no match for them, but then Emile van den Burg’s team have demonstrated an ability to lose in the face of weaker opposition from week one. The evergreen Mohammad Hafeez has been the stand-out bowler in the competition this season, and his contribution to Dosti’s mid-table finish is on a par with Kohli’s. He was curiously under-used last week however, as was Davids – bowling just six overs between them – and if their lightened workload was due to injury then an already diminished Dosti line-up looks still thinner.

RL: The day’s final contest is between two sides who have had a very disappointing second half of the season, with Excelsior ‘20 at home to Sparta 1888 at Thurlede. Both could be forgiven if they were now thinking about next year, and with Gijs Kroesen now taking the Schiedammers’ new ball – and bowling effectively at the death as well – they may be doing just that. Sparta’s early results probably gave a somewhat flattering impression, and neither side will have forgotten their demolition of Excelsior’s batting at Bermweg. But Thurlede is a completely different proposition, and with James Hilditch back in the side Excelsior will be out to prove that they are a better side than some of their performances this year have suggested.

BdJ: Hilditch’s early return was somewhat unexpected and how long his hamstring will hold out is something of an open question, much like why on earth he’s taking the field at all given that Excelsior are long safe. That said, he appears to have succeeded in pulling Excelsior out of their late-season slump, whilst Sparta’s continues unabated (their win against Quick last week was their first in seven rounds) and the Capelle side’s cause is not helped by the absence of Warren Bell. Though Sparta’s early victories were won without him and Mudassar Bukhari has looked a scarcely-diminished force with the ball since his Topklasse return, Excelsior will fancy their chances on home turf, at least if they can negotiate the early overs. The hosts’ tail is long but has been lively of late, whilst Sparta’s batting has looked rickety all season. Under a different format either or both teams might have been fighting for a top four finish and a long-shot run at the finals, but as it stands there’s still pride to play for, and the crowd at Thurlede will be expecting a hard fought-finish in Excelsior’s final home match.

Rod Lyall’s tips: VOC, ACC, HBS, VRA, Excelsior.
Bertus de Jong’s tips: VOC, HCC, HBS, VRA, Excelsior.

Bertus de Jong & Rod Lyall 10/08/18

With three rounds to go in this season’s Topklasse, Sunday’s round of matches will likely prove decisive, and indeed it’s entirely possible that both the championship and relegation will be decided in three days’ time.

BdJ: All eyes will be on the Bosjes van Pex where frontrunners VOC Rotterdam take on third place HBS Craeyenhout in the day’s biggest game. A win for VOC would put out an end to the Crows’ title hopes, and might just see VOC lift the trophy on the day. Though HBS are traditionally a tough proposition at home, they’ve looked unusually vulnerable at Craeyenhout this season, with three of their four defeats coming on home turf, and their imposing battery of top order guns has misfired on more than one occasion. There’s also question marks over the fitness of skipper Toby Visée and bowling spearhead Berend Westdijk, both of whom sat out their match last week at Drieburg, where HBS held on for a 19-run win against a below-strength Dosti after being bowled out for 141. A similar showing against VOC is unlikely to be sufficient, though the visitors have their own injury worries, with Max O’Dowd still at less than 100% and Corey Rutgers’ finger still a mess. VOC have been below full strength for much of the season however, and it’s not stopped them winning.

RL: No question that this is one of the season’s key games, and of keen interest to more than the two participants. It’s lent added piquancy by the fact that two of VOC’s reconstructed squad were wearing HBS colours last season, and by the somewhat controversial abandonment of the corresponding match at Hazelaarweg without a ball being bowled. The Bloodhounds go into this game with the scent of a first title since 1994 in their nostrils, and although their batting form hasn’t always been as consistent as they would have wished, they have generally fought their way out of trouble. And there’s no doubt that in Klaassen, Fletcher, Hanif, Seelaar and Baker they have the most effective attack in the competition.

BdJ: Should VOC take two points home from Craeyenhout, they’ll be taking the trophy too if HCC upset second-placed VRA at De Diepput. Though HCC’s own title hopes are long gone, having never really recovered from losing their opening two games, they nonetheless showed plenty of fight when they fought back to a dramatic tie against Excelsior at Thurlede last week. Though the HCC old guard have struggled somewhat this season, youngsters Tonny Staal and Hidde Overdijk have stepped up admirably, and with overseas players Ryan Ninan and Bryce Street both enjoying solid if unspectacular seasons there’s a real chance VRA’s title challenge may be ended at on Sunday. VRA too are still struggling to come back from two opening defeats, which may yet cost them a title shot should their persistent top-order troubles be on show again. The Amsterdammers have had to rely on their middle and lower order to get them out of trouble repeatedly, and while the depth of their batting is an undoubted strength their habit of losing early wickets is bound to tell against them eventually. With Vivian Kingma out for the rest of the season their bowling isn’t what it might be either, though in Quirijn Gunning and Haseeb Gul Mia they still boast a more than serviceable new ball attack and in Adeel Raja and Leon Turmaine a solid spin section. Effectively trailing VOC by two matches, VRA will need a little luck to set up a de facto final in the Bos on the closing weekend, but first they’ll need a win at De Diepput.

RL: Peter Borren’s outstanding century last week set up a comfortable victory for his side against lowly Punjab, and with six wins out of six in this latter half of the season VRA are deservedly VOC’s last remaining challengers for the title. They will be hoping that HBS do them a favour at Craeyenhout on Sunday, while at the same time needing to make sure of their own victory over HCC, for whom Boris Gorlee returns after leading the Dutch Under-17 side to the European Division 2 title in England earlier this week. That should have done his confidence a world of good, but HCC’s hopes of a morale-boosting win over VRA may depend more up the ability of Mark Jonkman, Ali Ahmad Qasim and the rest of the attack to upset the Amsterdammers’ powerful but inconsistent batting line-up.

BdJ: Meanwhile at the other end of the table Punjab Rotterdam will need to see off Dosti-United if they are to keep their faint hopes of Topklasse survival alive. Two points adrift of ninth-placed Quick, Punjab can’t afford to drop another game. They can take comfort from the knowledge that Dosti have little to play for, and still more comfort from the fact that Taruwar Kohli is done for the season. Without him Dosti’s batting has looked by turns brittle and directionless, though the same charge could be levelled at their opponents of course. Before Peter Borren’s spectacular counter-attack Punjab had looked well on top of VRA last week, suggesting there’s plenty of fight left in the Rotterdammers, at least with ball in hand even without the contribution of Bernard Vorster’s legspin, but for impetus with the bat they have relied almost entirely on Ali Raza and Stephan Myburgh at the top of the order, tending to shut up shop once both are dismissed. Whether the looming prospect of relegation will be enough to inject some urgency into the middle order’s batting is an open question, but if Punjab are to pull off a late-season Houdini act they can’t rely on Raza and Myburgh to win three for them.

RL: Dosti, of course, still have Anees Davids and Mohammad Hafeez, both of whom contributed significantly to their side’s achievement in dismissing HBS for 141 last week. They may be one of the teams who rely most on a few big-name players, especially with Vinoo Tewarie and Rahil Ahmed unable to perform consistently with the bat, but the same is true of Punjab, who have proved all season what a key role was played last year by Shoaib Minhaas and Khurram Shahzad, both of whom have performed reliably for Hermes-DVS this time round. After a promising start Rohan Qadri hasn’t added a great deal to Punjab’s line-up, and the way forward may be pointed by the success of young seamer Mubashar Hussain. This is not the moment for in-depth philosophising about the deficiencies of the Topklasse, but both these sides illustrate the urgent need for such a discussion.

BdJ: Five losses and the format finished off Excelsior 20’s title defence some weeks ago, and barring a remarkable turnaround from Punjab ACC will be playing for position from here on too. Though they are notionally still at risk, Rehmat Zulfiqar’s record-breaking knock against Quick last week effectively secured safety for the Amsterdam club. The elder Zulfiqar brother remains a hit-or miss gambit at the top of the order, though when he hits he hits big. Yet ACC remain a rather unbalanced side, their scattered successes this season usually built on some combination of Zulfiqars coming off in a big way. The bowling especially has been a weak point, now exacerbated by Botha’s departure, as shown by Quick coming close to chasing the 311 run total they posted last week. Conversely, Excelsior’s winning formula of batting around Lorenzo Ingram and James Hilditch is again viable following the latter’s return from injury, and their supporting cast have a few seasons’ experience on ACC’s youngsters.

RL: The difficulty of maintaining a youth development policy with a limited talent pool is starkly illustrated by these two sides: Excelsior were themselves surprised by the early success of their young team over the past two seasons and have come down to earth with a bump this year, while ACC’s reliance on the Zulfiqar brothers has been underlined by the side’s fragile middle order and generally poor bowling. Aryan Kumar and, to a lesser extent, Shirase Rasool have made some progress, and will return from the U-17 tournament with more experience under their belts. But too much still depends on at least two Zulfiqars going big with the bat, and on Sikander and Saqib’s contributions with the ball. Man-for-man (or in some cases boy-for-boy) Excelsior are much stronger than their opponents, and then there are Ingram and Hilditch . . .

BdJ: Winless in their last six games, Sparta 1888 will be looking to recapture some of their early form to finish the season on a high, though both they and their opponents Quick Haag will be largely playing for pride too on Sunday. Like ACC, Quick remain at notional risk of relegation, but a win at Bermweg (or a loss for Punjab) will cement their place in the Topklasse for next season. Struggling for consistency both in terms of selections and success, Quick have relied heavily on coach (and now captain) Jay Bista throughout the season, with support from the evergreen Doc Mol. Bista and Mol have kept them afloat more-or-less singlehandedly, and whilst the former has been the league’s stand-out performer the latter’s contribution of 24 wickets and 433 runs should not be underrated. If both fire again on Sunday though that will likely be enough to see off Sparta, who have lacked any reliable performers with the bat. The pitch at Bermweg is not easy to get in on though, and with Mudassar Bukhari and Dost Muhammad sharing the new ball early wickets are always on the cards.

RL: Outstanding batting by Bista and Mol last week again succeeded in papering over some of Quick’s cracks, but the real story was the way in which their bowling was demolished in the early stages. Jeroen Brand’s spell underlined how much his side have missed him, but with Imran Khan’s contributions also intermittent at best (and perhaps now again disrupted by injury) the bowling is distinctly threadbare. Whether Sparta are in a position to capitalise on this depends a lot on Michael Pollard and Warren Bell: if they come off, then Sparta might muster a big enough total to cause Quick problems on that Bermweg pitch. It would take a succession of unfortunate events for Quick to find themselves facing the drop, but they will breathe a lot easier if they take the points away from Capelle on Sunday evening.

BdJ’s tips: VOC, VRA, Punjab, Excelsior, Quick.
RL’s tips: VOC, VRA, Dosti, Excelsior, Quick.

Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong 04/08/81

After the annual fallow week and the excitement of the international interlude, the Topklasse resumes this week with four rounds left to play and the key issues almost sharply defined at both ends of the table.

RL: Two points clear at the top, but more importantly with two defeats fewer than their nearest rivals, VOC Rotterdam are at home to Sparta 1888, who have dropped back to sixth after briefly leading at the turn. The Hazelaarweg side may have had something of a scare last time out, hanging on to beat ACC by two wickets, but there is no doubt about the championship potential of their side, and they know that if they keeping winning the chasing pack can do nothing to catch them. Max O’Dowd’s continuing injury problems are a worry – he missed both of this week’s ODIs – but with Fred Klaassen and his new-ball partner Pierce Fletcher in fine form and skipper Peter Seelaar a dominant force, they should prove too strong for a Sparta side whose big guns have generally failed to fire in recent weeks.

BdJ: Corey Rutgers and O’Dowd both remain at less than 100%, though both showed against Quick Haag that they needn’t be to win games for VOC. Whether either or both will play tomorrow is an open question, but part of the reason that VOC are at the top of the table is that they have coped with injuries and absences better than most, and even without the pair they would start as favourites against a Sparta side that’s been on the slide for most of the season now.

RL: Now perhaps VOC’s only serious challengers for the title, VRA Amsterdam must keep winning themselves and hope that the Rotterdammers slip up along the way, setting up a winner-take-all confrontation between the two sides on 26 August. This week VRA are at home to likely wooden-spooners Punjab Rotterdam, who have to win at least three of their last four games to have any realistic hope of survival in the top flight. VRA will be without Vikram Singh, who is in England with the national Under-17 side, but still seem much too powerful for a Punjab side which has shown flashes of form – mainly from openers Stef Myburgh and Ali Raza – but who otherwise have been outclassed for much of the season. The return to form of Eric Szwarczynski, enjoying his role as opener in company with Dan ter Braak, has given greater solidity to the home side’s batting, and with the outfield in the Bos at its quickest the runs can be expected to flow.

BdJ: More than the absence of Singh, whose promising future looks like it will remain ahead of him for at least another season, the departure of Michael Rippon after a one match cameo leaves VRA looking more beatable than last round. That said, Punjab don’t look the team to beat them. An upset at the Bos tomorrow would make things more interesting at the bottom of the table and less so at the top, but given the strength of VRA’s batting it really would be quite the upset.

RL: In view of Punjab’s plight the threat of relegation faced by Quick Haag and ACC may appear largely theoretical, but that doesn’t detract from the importance of these sides’ clash at De Diepput this week, since the winner will take a large stride away from the danger zone. Both teams will be missing players from the Under-17 squad: Teun Landheer and Govert Trappenburg for Quick, and Shirase Rasool for ACC. But it’s once again the key players on each side who will likely decide this match: Richardt Frenz and the Zulfiqars for ACC; Jay Bista, Sean Davey (if he’s fully fit) and Geert Maarten Mol for Quick. It was Quick who prevailed when the sides met back in May, but there’s little to choose between them and this one could go either way.

BdJ: Yup, the toughest call of the round this one. ACC have been affected more than most sides by the u19’s absence, and will be without Devon Botha’s services too, the South African’s stint in the Netherlands having come to an end. Though the Amsterdammers will likely be able to field a full complement of Zulfiqars tomorrow, who will doubtless be looking to make a point after being overlooked for national duties last week, the bowling attack looks weaker than ever. Quick have retained the in-form Jay Bista’s services to the end of the season, and one suspects ACC will struggle to contain the mumbaiker, much less dislodge him. A strong showing and a little luck may be required for ACC to take a step toward safety on Sunday.

RL: If we still had play-offs involving the top four the encounter between Dosti United and HBS Craeyenhout would be one of the games of the season, but the latter’s defeat by VRA a fortnight ago means that they have only the slimmest chance of getting back into title contention, and this match is close to being a ‘dead’ rubber. It’s also robbed of some of its glamour by the departure of Taruwar Kohli, one of the iconic players of the season, and that should give the Crows considerable heart – provided that Sharn Gomes is still among their number. With Tobias Visée and Wesley Barresi both having been in good form with the bat for the national side, and an attack which has been consistently impressive, HBS are tough nuts to crack, and without Kohli the home side will need to draw on all their talent and determination if they are to have a chance here.

BdJ: Despite a successful season the Crows’ hopes of adding the Topklasse title to their T20 trophy are indeed now out of their hands, and they will need a perfect run couple with other results going their way if they’re to catch VRA and VOC. It’s unlikely their hopes will be entirely snuffed out tomorrow though, facing a Dosti side that’s now missing both Kohli and Anees Davids and are themselves playing for little but pride. It will take quite the team talk from young skipper Vinoo Tewarie to instill the sort of inspiration Dosti will need to spring an upset on HBS.

RL: Fifth and seventh on the table, Excelsior ‘20 and HCC meet at Thurlede in what is to meaningful cricket what the Norwegian Blue in the Monty Python sketch is to parrots, although once again in another universe Excelsior would be fighting for a place in the play-offs. That said, every cricket match is worth winning, and both as individuals and as teams these sides have plenty to prove. Excelsior, still without James Hilditch, will be looking to finish their season on a high, putting behind them a very disappointing run of form, and the progress made by Joost Kroesen with the bat and his younger brother Gijs with the ball are a couple of positive features the Schiedammers will want to see continue. HCC are without Boris Gorlee, skippering the Under-17s in England, but they have Tonny Staal and Hidde Overdijk as core members of a young side which will also be looking towards a more prosperous future. Lorenzo Ingram, of course, remains capable of turning any game Excelsior’s way, but this, too, could be a very close match.

BdJ: It’s inevitable given the lamentable new format that the tail end of the season will see an increasing number of matches with little on the line but pride, but for HCC and Excelsior at least there’s plenty of that to play for. Excelsior will be keen to prove that they are more than just the Jimmy and Lorenzo show, and their young youth graduates will doubtless be keen to draw national selectors eyes back the Thurlede. Whilst HCC’s reliable new ball pair of Mark Jonkman and especially Reinier Bijloos have struggled to make the same impact as in seasons past, Ali Ahmed and Overdijk have stepped up admirably, and Tonny Staal looks a much more complete player following his antipodean adventures. The latter pair have been rewarded with senior T20 call-ups, and were arguably unlucky to miss out on selection against Nepal this week. Though besting Excelsior away is a big ask, I make the visitors narrow favourites.

Rod Lyall’s tips: VOC, VRA, ACC, HBS, Excelsior.
Bertus de Jong’s tips: VOC, VRA, Quick, HBS, HCC

Rod Lyall and Bertus de Jong 20/07/18

With five rounds left it’s beginning to look as if the national championship is VOC’s to lose, and with their two main rivals due to meet this week the title race may effectively be reduced to two contenders by Sunday evening.

RL: The match of the day is undoubtedly the visit of third-placed VRA Amsterdam to Craeyenhout to take on HBS, currently one place above them on the table by virtue of having lost one game fewer. VRA won the corresponding encounter in the Amsterdamse Bos on 21 May despite openers Daan ter Braak and Eric Szwarczynski making just eight runs between them, and with this pair having shared century opening partnerships in each of their last two games the Amsterdammers are beginning to look like a formidable batting line-up on the field as well as on paper. But HBS are a different proposition on their own astroturf, and their seamers have shown that the side’s championship prospects do not depend wholly on its batting. This promises to be one of the best games of the season, and it’s certainly one of vital importance to both teams.

BdJ: A crucial game no doubt, one that looks almost like a semi-final as we head toward the late phase of the league. Both sides still have a game in hand against VOC at the top of the table which could see them draw level with the leaders on points, but first they will need a win on Sunday in what will likely be on of the last few genuine “4 pointers” of the season. VRA’s batting will be strengthened by the return of Ben Cooper as well as Szwarczynski’s belated return to form, and though Vivian Kingma looks set to miss the remainder of the season the presence of Michael Rippon in the Netherlands and on the VRA list gives van den Burg a tempting option, especially if Adeel Raja is unavailable. Should Rippon play VRA’s already remarkable batting depth would be still further extended, and might give them the edge even in the face of HBS’ own intimidating top order. Though Toby Visee had the chance to get another good look at Rippon’s left arm wrist spin from behind the stumps in today’s Pro-Series matches, and Wes Barresi has seen plenty of him from the same vantage point over the years, for the rest of HBS’ line-up it may take some getting used to.

RL: Leaders VOC Rotterdam, on the other hand, have what is theoretically a less challenging task, away to struggling ACC at Het Loopveld. They were uncompromising in their dismissal of champions Excelsior last week, and they are likely to focus equally hard on neutralising the undoubted threat of the Zulfiqar brothers and Richardt Frenz (which incidentally would be a pretty good name for a blues band). ACC’s problem is that they have too little to back up that top four or five, depending on whether Sikander Zulfiqar is able to return to the side, and that their attack lacks the firepower to trouble a side with the batting depth of VOC. With Scott Edwards coming in at six and able to rely on significant support from the lower order, even early wickets don’t necessarily put the Rotterdammers on the back foot, while the pace attack of Klaassen and Fletcher will certainly test the top of ACC’s batting.

BdJ:No argument here. The depth of VOC’s side even when key players such as Rutgers or Ahsan Malik have sat out due to injury is largely what has got them to the top of the table, and though skipper Seelaar’s form has certainly helped, they have shown they can win even when he has a rare off-day. Conversely, ACC’s lack of bench strength has been exposed repeatedly, and they will need a solid showing from the top order and more penetration with the ball than they’ve consistently shown to upset the Rotterdammers.

RL: Two sides which started well and have fallen away, Sparta 1888 and Dosti United Amsterdam meet in a mid-table clash at Sportpark Bermweg. Both sides are reliant on a few key players, although Sparta’s largely seam attack is more extensive and a good deal more imposing than Dosti’s. Generally speaking, when Taruwar Kohli makes runs Dosti wins, and when he doesn’t, they don’t. Sparta, equally, need a significant contribution with the bat from Michael Pollard and/or Warren Bell, and neither has been as consistent as they or their team-mates would have liked. Mudassar Bukhari needs just one wicket to reach 300 in the top flight, and it’s a fair bet he would love to do it against his former team-mates – and then go on to claim a few more. Having lost four on the trot Sparta need to halt their slide, while Dosti remain in the top half of the table and will be very keen to stay there.

BdJ: The first of the inevitable mid-table dead rubbers is indeed already upon us, and with neither of these sides in realistic danger of relegation or a late surge to the title this match rather takes on the appearance of a friendly. That said, newcomers Sparta certainly have plenty to prove in their return season, and should not be underestimated on home turf. Whilst Dosti boast both the season’s lead runscorer and lead wicket taker in Kohli and Hafeez, Sparta look the more rounded side and at a ground such as Bermweg reliance on a single player for runs is arguably a greater weakness than elsewhere.

RL: Having lost to Quick Haag last Sunday HCC will be hoping for yet another reversal of fortune when they entertain bottom-placed Punjab Rotterdam at De Diepput. Ryan Ninan was one of the few bright lights in last week’s performance, and HCC need him to produce a strong finish to the season to back up his overseas colleague Bryce Street and the younger brigade of Tonny Staal, Hidde Overdijk, Boris Gorlee and the rest. Punjab, on the other hand, continue to drift towards relegation, which seems increasingly certain unless openers Stef Myburgh and Ali Raza can repeat their two century stands on a weekly basis or someone else can emerge as a potential matchwinner. With five games left HCC are not yet mathematically safe, but two points here would make their cushion a good deal more comfortable than it is at present.

BdJ: For all Myburgh and Raza’s belligerence at the top of the order, Punjab have looked increasingly like a side that has resigned itself to a return to the Hoofdklasse. All too often early wickets have seen the Rotterdammers throw in the towel early in a chase, blocking their way to respectable defeat rather than going down blazing, and with a bowling attack that rarely threatens to take ten wickets they have struggled to defend any sort of total. HCC’s inconsistent form will give them some hope though, especially if they can get off to a decent start in the first innings with either bat or ball. They remain a dangerous side if there’s blood in the water, but nonetheless head to de Diepput as outsiders.

RL: Excelsior ‘20’s season reads WWAWWWALLWLLL, which looks a bit like the sound their supporters must feel like making as a season which began so promisingly comes to pieces before their eyes. This week they are at home to a Quick Haag side which produced one of their better performances in beating HCC last week, while Excelsior, after a decent start in the field, were again dismissed for under 100. Hampered by James Hilditch’s absence, the champions lack conviction with the bat, and to some degree with the ball, and Quick, needing a couple more wins to get clear of the danger zone, will be hoping that Jay Bista, now captain as well as leading allrounder, can lift them to a victory which would have seemed deeply improbable a few weeks ago. So much of cricket is played in the head, and Quick’s may just be in a better place at this point than the Schiedammers’.

BdJ: It’s remarkable in itself that these two recent champions should be battling for mid-table position at this point in the season, though the current title-holders will doubtless be the more disappointed of the two with the position they find themselves in. Quick were targeting top-flight survival even before a game had been played, and have not had to revise their ambitions, whilst Excelsior’s defense of the championship has unwound calamitously since Hilditch’s injury. For all the talent in Excelsior’s young squad, his absence has underscored the extend to which the Schiedammers’ success has been built around his and Ingram’s partnership. Quick meanwhile are down one overseas as well, with Sean Davey likely to sit out, and as Jay Bista himself observed at de Diepput a couple of weeks agom a pro can’t reliably win Topklasse games on his own. That said, on the mumbaiker’s current form one could see him proving himself wrong. He will have a tougher task than Ingram come Sunday though, the prolonged absence of Quick skipper Jeroen Brand further weakening a Quick squad already struggling with departures and retirements.

Rod Lyall’s tips: HBS, VOC, Sparta, HCC, Quick.
Bertus de Jong’s tips: VRA, VOC, Sparta, HCC, Excelsior

Rod Lyall & Bertus de Jong 06/07/18

In contrast with last week, when the top six were pitted against each other and the lower four likewise, this Sunday’s programme matches each of the top five against one of the sides in the lower half of the table. Such is the nature of the Topklasse, however, that in any of these fixtures there could be lurking a surprise.

RL: Perhaps the most interesting encounter is at Thurlede, where third-placed Excelsior ‘20 will take on Dosti United Amsterdam, currently sixth. If winning is a habit, it’s a habit that has eluded Excelsior recently, and after three defeats in their last four games the defending champions really need to turn things around. James Hilditch’s absence last week undoubtedly made a big difference, but the fundamental problem is that he and Lorenzo Ingram have been getting too little consistent support from those around them. Joost Kroesen’s first Topklasse half-century is a step in the right direction, as is the return of keeper Roel Verhagen. Dosti, too, were without Anees Davids last week, but his replacement Amitoze Singh more than compensated with both bat and ball, and their two wins keep them just about in touch with the pack.

BdJ: This match-up is definitely harder to call now than it might have been at the start of the season, and duly provides us with our only point of disagreement. Excelsior are now entirely bereft of the momentum that they have been able to count on for all of last season and most of this one, and will likely miss Hilditch at least as much, not only for his stabilising influence with the bat but also his habit of creating chances with the new ball. “Where’s Kohli’s wicket coming from?” is the question that looms largest here, as recent games have shown you either get him early or far too late. Excelsior will need Gijs Kroesen and Rens van Troost to step up with the ball as much as Verhagen, Etman and Joost Kroesen with the willow.

RL: Local derbies always have an extra vibe, and that between ACC and VRA Amsterdam at Het Loopveld West is likely to be no exception. The home side come off another outstanding batting performance from their top order, although it will be a worry that the limitations of their attack were again exposed by Punjab’s batsmen. VRA have a better-balanced combination, particularly with Viv Kingma restored to the attack, and if they are at full strength they should be the stronger side. They have underperformed all season, however, and with an unsettled batting order they have struggled to realise their potential in that department. Daan ter Braak, Ben Cooper and Peter Borren have kept them going, with Leon Turmaine often chipping in with valuable runs. ACC’s top five, by contrast, have found a rich vein of form, and VRA will need to secure early breakthroughs if they are to prevent another big total.

BdJ: It’s a testament to the strength of this VRA side that they are still in touch with the top of the table despite consistently underperforming and rarely fielding a full first-choice side. Moreover, rather perversely for a team that plays at the Bos, they are generally at their best on artificial wickets. They’ve lost just one game on a mat so far this season, and generally their away record is better than at home. Though ACC’s top four are all have a weight of runs behind them from the last few games and both Kingma and Gunning are carrying niggles, one suspects that VRA’s depth will win out at het Loopveld come Sunday.

RL: Quick Haag’s current groundlessness has produced an unusual sort of double-header this week, since they will play VOC Rotterdam on the artificial surface of the second ground at De Diepput. (This may be a subtle preparation for playing on their own artificial ground next season.) VOC have deservedly moved to the top of the table, and it’s hard to see Quick causing them much trouble unless Jay Bista has another personal field day. He has been outstanding both as batsman and bowler in recent games, but few of his team-mates have been able to give him consistent support. The reconstructed VOC side, by contrast, has strength in depth, with Seelaar, O’Dowd, Klaassen and Edwards getting plenty of backing, especially from the other bowlers. If the batting has sometimes seemed a little brittle, though, the big names have salvaged the situation, and they should once again prove too strong for Quick.

BdJ: VOC’s position at the top of the table would look a lot less precarious if they could still count on the full roster they had assembled at the start of the season, but with Cory Rutgers and Max O’Dowd both playing against doctor’s advice they are beginning to look more reliant on Pieter Seelaar than they might like. The new Dutch skipper has been a man to bank on thus far, his only challenger for Topklasse MVP as things stand being the aforementioned Jay Bista. An off day for either could yet turn the game, but though VOC have looked more vulnerable away than at Hazelaarweg the nominal hosts will likely need more than that, and indeed it would take a remarkable reversal of form for Quick to pick up points here.

RL: While Quick and VOC do battle behind them, HCC will be playing HBS Craeyenhout on their main ground. On their last outing here Ali Ahmed Qasim spearheaded a remarkable win against Sparta, and the Diepput pitch certainly offers plenty for the faster bowlers. He and the other HCC seamers, Hidde Overdijk, Reinier Bijloos and skipper Mark Jonkman, will need to be at their best against the HBS top order, where the aggressiveness of Tobias Visee, Jaron Morgan and Wesley Barresi is well balanced by the more restrained skills of Wessel Coster and, especially, Sharn Gomes. And Coster, Berend Westdijk, Farshad Khan and Ferdi Vink will also present a threat to HCC’s batting, where Tonny Staal and Bryce Street have frequently been given too little support.

BdJ: More than his exploits against Sparta, one suspects Qasim’s 8-wicket demolition of HBS’ much-vaunted batting line-up will be playing on the Crows’ minds ahead of Sunday’s encounter. But they would do well to be at least as wary of young Hidde Overdijk, who has quietly made his way to third in the wicket-taking table with 22 at 17.55. Even while Overdijk and Qasim have had stellar season, however, the reliable paring of Jonkman and Bijloos have struggled, and the batting has been inconsistent at best. Even should HCC contain HBS’ battery of big guns, there’s no guarantee they could chase even a sub-par total.

RL: Having lost their last two matches and dropped from first to fifth in the table, Sparta 1888 will be especially keen to get back on track with a win over Punjab Rotterdam at Sportpark Bermweg. But the advent of Rohan Qadri has strengthened Punjab somewhat, and they did well to get within 30 runs of ACC’s massive total last Sunday. Their bowling still lacks a cutting edge, however, and against quality batting they clearly struggle. In Michael Pollard and Warren Bell, both of whom are due a score, Sparta have batsmen capable of taking full advantage of this, and while the Bermweg pitch Is something of a batsmen’s nightmare, Mudassar Bukhari, Bell, Dost Muhammad, Usman Saleem and Joost Martijn Snoep are better equipped to make the most of the conditions.

BdJ: First innings scores at Bermweg have been trending resolutely downward from a high of 176 in the season opener, culminating in two sub-50 scores in the last two games to be played there. One could say that might make it something of a leveller, but as the esteemed professor rightly points out, it is the hosts that have the attack to take advantage. Punjab have looked to rebalance their side somewhat in recent matches and have posted some creditable scores, but generally only after conceding unreachable ones. One can never discount the possibility of of a Myburgh special of course, and in Ali Raza he has an equally dangerous foil, but the conditions are unlikely to favour the sort of explosive start that set up the Rotterdammers first and still only win this season.

RL’s tips: Excelsior, VRA, VOC, HBS, Sparta
BdJ’s tips: Dosti, VRA, VOC, HBS, Sparta