Rod Lyall 18:36
Another remarkable day’s Topklasse cricket, with three games going down to the wire one way or another, and another a real roller-coaster ride. If the technology was again pretty frustrating for all concerned, and not least for us, the cricket certainly gave us plenty to enjoy. Punjab have consolidated their position at the top, VOC breathing down their necks, while with Excelsior, Voorburg and HCC losing and HBS and VRA winning, the battle for top four places has tightened considerably. We’ll be updating the table, producing scorecards, processing photos, and reviewing the action in the next day or so, so do come back to relive it with us. In the meantime, this is Rod Lyall saying goodbye for now, and mind how you go.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 18:34
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 238-7 (49.2 overs)
The margin, we now hear, was three wickets, and O’Dowd was not out on 97, the second player of the date to be left stranded in the nineties.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 18:03
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 214 all out (46.? overs)
It was a thriller at the Bermweg as well, Dosti getting heart-breakingly close to their first win in nearly two years, only to fall four runs short.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 18:01
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 238-7 (50 overs)
Heggelman plays one back to Hartsink, then holes out square. Baker in. They’ve crossed again, but van Troost can only find one on the next, another single. Solid fielding from the hosts, and again. The final ball is driven square and Baker is again watching for a misfield that doesn’t come. VRA hold their nerve to clinch a remarkable come-back victory.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 18:05
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 238-? (?49.2 overs)
Well, VOC appear to have won, possibly in the final over, by an indeterminate number of wickets. The online card having died with 18 overs to go it’s hard to be sure about anything very much, except that VOC have taken the points, and that Max O’Dowd has batted throughout the innings. He very probably made another century. No doubt we’ll be able to tell you in due course.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 18:01
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 234-6 (49 overs)
Dot to extra, single to mid off, another to midwicket, and another. Blocked back to the bowler, single into the covers. VRA well up in the field. Four off it, Hartsink to defend 10 in the last.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:58
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 230-6 (48 overs)
Two dots to start and a single brings Ingram onto strike, goes for a huge slog-sweep but skies it and it’s Lees under it at deep midwicket (Scully preumably nicked the gloves when we weren’t looking) and holds it. Heggelman in and they’ve crossed. Van Troost profits from an awful msifield as Singh runs over the drive to mid off and it goes for four, Balbirnie to bowl the 49th.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:54
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 223-5 (47 overs)
Van Troost takes his chances against Hartsinnk, lifted inches over cover for four third ball. Risky but valuable runs. Ingram entrusts him with the strike taking a single first ball off the next, bowled by Nashir. Both are willing to chance risky singles but this over has done damage to VRA, six off it, van Troost ends up facing for the 48th. Hartsink still.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:53
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 152 all out (47.1 overs)
Engelbrecht has to go for it, hits Navjit back over his head, and Steph Vink accepts the catch. He goes for 68, and HBS have pulled a remarkable win out of the hat. Vink finishes with three for 29.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:46
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 211-4 (45 overs)
Ingram brings up his hundred in Turmaine’s next and then rather sells Etman up the river on a nonsense run. Shankar in, and Shankar out, pops one back to Turmaine and you’ll rarely see a more casual caught-and-bowled. Rens van Troost to the crease. Hartsink replaces Borren.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:47
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 152-9 (46.4 overs)
Klein bowls Qasim, and HBS are one wicket away from victory. Stef Mulder the last man. Great comeback by the Crows’ attack.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:36
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 204-3 (44 overs)
Stubbs brings up the 200 pushing Borren into the off side last ball of the 42nd, but he goes in Borren’s next for 39. Mishit looking to go over cow and it’s a mile in the air. Stubbs only waits long enough to see that Ben Cooper is under it before tucking his bat under his arm and walking. He’s a good ten yards toward the pavilion by the time the catch is taken. Niels Etman in. Ingram on 99, 41 needed off six.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:40
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 147-8 (45 overs)
Which isn’t so easy, as Floris de Lange is well caught by Walbrugh off Stephan Vink, who now ha three. Ali Ahmed Qasim joins Engelbrecht, on 64*
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 17:37
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 194-3 (44 overs)
44 runs required off 36 deliveries.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:36
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 141-7 (44 overs)
Boissevain caught by Mason off Stephan Vink without scoring, and the balance tilts HBS’s way a little. But as long as Engelbrecht’s there Voorburg have a good chance. Provided someone can stay with him.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 17:30
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 165-8 (38.5 overs)
Arief Hoseinbaks has gone for 51, and Sparta are almost there.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 17:29
HCC : 236-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 185-3 (41 overs)
The live score’s died at the Hazelaarweg, but O’Dowd is still there. Seelaar’s out, and Arnav Jain is in.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:25
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 133-6 (42 overs)
Pieterse goes, caught behind by Martijn Scholte off De Mey, bringing Karl Nieuwoudt to the crease. He goes without scoring, and Boissevain’s in to join Engelbrecht. He’s brought up his half-century with a boundary off Navjit Singh, and he’s now on 53*. Game’s in the balance.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:16
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 171-2 (38 overs)
Ingram looking to shift the equation, gets low and slogs Balbirnie over midwicket for six, next is too wide and cut fine for three. Borren’s next goes for just one though, Turmaine back from the other end.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 17:15
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 158-6 (36 overs)
Arief Hoseinbaks still there on 47*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 17:10
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 160-2 (36 overs)
This is the partnership, you’d think. Both looking comfortable, Ingram dangerous. That was a five ball over from Balbirnie we reckon for the 35th, Borren returns. Lovely cover drive from Stubbs on the front fott just evades the tree (again) but they run hard for three. 84 needed off 14.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 17:09
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 125-4 (39 overs)
Klein back to try to get the breakthrough HBS need, but Engelbrecht and Pieterse weathering the storm so far, Engelbrecht surviving a big appeal for leg-before, Van Liemt’s refusal producing a classic double teapot. Engelbrecht’s on 46*, Pieterse on 8*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 16:57
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 140-2 (33 overs)
Ingram reprieved, though it was a tough chance. Miscued dive and flies high toward the point boundary where the fielder dives forward but can’t cling on. Couple of balls later and Stubbs finds a cleaner connection, putting Balbirnie back over his head and into the water for six.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 16:52
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 126-2 (30 overs)
O’Dowd’s moved on to 63*, Seelaar on 25*, and VOC appear to be cruising at the Hazelaarweg.
Rod Lyall 16:48
And we understand that Voorburg Women have, with a seven-wicket victory over VRA, won the Women’s Hoofdklasse for the first time. A remarkable achievement when one remembers that the club had no women’s team until just a few years ago.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 16:42
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 128-6 (29.1 overs)
A partial recovery by Srinivasan (who wasn’t out earlier it seems) and Arief Hoseinbaks, who’s on 28*. But now Srinivasan IS out, bowled by Manminder Singh for 16.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 16:38
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 96-4 (31 overs)
Another for Ahmed, as he takes a sharp low return catch to remove Dutt. Pieterse in to join Engelbrecht on 28*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 16:37
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 115-2 (28.2 overs)
And heads bounce back up as Vergahen repeats Etman’s mistake from half an innings ago, driving Balbirnie up and hard into the hands of Singh at long on. He goes for 44, Stubbs to the middle now to join Ingram.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 16:37
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 115-1 (28 overs)
Hundred up as Ingram cuts through point, quite literally as the fielder lets it through his legs. Next is helped on its way down leg for four more. VRA looking short of ideas here. Ingram brings up his fifty with a bunted single off Hartsink, then Verhagen sweeps hard for four behind square. Excelsior almost half-way there and heads going down in the field.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 16:30
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 115-2 (26 overs)
HCC also in need of a breakthrough, with O’Dowd and Seelaar scoring more or less at will without having to take any silly chances. They’re on 54* and 28* now.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 16:25
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 84-1 (23 overs)
Jack Balbirnie into the attack, purveying his neophyte legspin. You’d have thought he’d been bowling it his whole life, very tidy. Just one off his first two overs and a decent LBW shout in there too, bit high but they’ve been giving those today. Still Hartsink from the other end, VRA need a breakthrough somewhere one feels, both batsmen set, Verhagen on 28* and Ingram 28*
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 16:24
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 83-3 (27 overs)
Hingorani’s out, caught off Adil Ahmed, and HBS catch just the faintest whiff of a chance as Dutt joins Engelbrecht.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 16:13
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 98-2 (23 overs)
Steady progress by O’Dowd and Seelaar, with Musa Nadeem operating from the Airport End now opposite Ollie Klaus. O’Dowd’s on 43*, Seelaar on 23*.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 16:10
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 69-2 (23 overs)
De Leede’s gone, caught by Klein off Stephan Vink, but Hingorani’s still there on 30*, with Engelbrecht on 14*
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 16:09
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 75-1 (19 overs)
Gotten rather attritional here meanwhile, spin at both ends with Nashir and Hartsink on. Verhagen and Ingram have been disciplined thus far, VRA searching a bit.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 16:03
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 80-5 (18.5 overs)
The Dosti innings implodes after a decent start, and Max Hoornweg has four wickets in nine deliveries. Tewarie, Ravichandran and Srinivasan all gone.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 15:58
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 71-2 (16 overs)
Klaus on from the Pavilion End, but O’Dowd and Seelaar are looking solid. O’Dowd’s on 35* now.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 15:50
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 78-2 (16.3 overs)
Sparta strike back, first Ahmed caught by Tarr off Manminder Singh for 44, then Hans caught behind by Raza off Hoornweg for 27.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 15:49
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 50-1 (13 overs)
Ingram survives a stumping chance off a wide, next ball sweeps Turmaine for four over midwicket then drives through cover for four more. Fifty up. Singh now at the other end.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 15:41
ACC : 104 all out (41.2 overs)
Punjab : 107-1 (15.4 overs)
It’s all over at the Zomercomplex, with Myburgh and Asad Zulfiqar seeing Punjab through to a nine-wicket win. Myburgh ends on 52*, Asad on 40*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 15:36
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 31-1 (10 overs)
Borren finds Ingram’s outside edge immediately, flies toward first slip, not clear that it carried but judging by the VRA skipper’s reaction that may have been a chance. Just two off the next three overs, pressure building
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 15:33
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 52-2 (10 overs)
Another for Overdijk, as immediately after hitting him for four De Kok is caught behind for 9. Pieter Seelaar joins O’Dowd, who’s on 24*.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 15:32
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 45-0 (9 overs)
A good start for Dosti, with Ahmed now on 26* and Hans on 16*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 15:29
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 28-1 (7 overs)
Turmaine reaps rapid reward, Etman comes down to him in his second over looking to go high into the sight screen, no need to be playing that shot with long on back at this stage. Doesn’t get enough of it, Singh sets himself on the rope and takes a regulation catch. Ingram in. Borren still at the other end.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 15:28
ACC : 104 all out (41.2 overs)
Punjab : 74-1 (10 overs)
Quinten Brouwer’s first over yields four boundaries, three for Myburgh (now on 37*) and one for Zulfiqar (23*), as Punjab make short work of this chase.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 15:22
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 37-1 (7 overs)
Overdijk removes Edwards; O’Dowd’s on 20*, and batting now with Tim de Kok.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 15:19
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
Voorburg : 18-1 (7 overs)
Tom de Grooth, we believe, went early, but Mohit Hingorani and Bas de Leede are building a partnership. Julian de Mey into the attack early.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 14:19
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 18-0 (4 overs)
And we’re back, Ashir Abid opening the bowling for the hosts, Verhagen and Tim Etman for the visitors. Etman takes two balls to have a look and then dives Abid up over cover for four, then dives the next straight between mids on and off. 244 suddenly looks well short of par. Peter Borren sharing the new ball again, the injured Gunning providing moral support up on the balcony. Four overs of that and then straight to spin. Leon Turmaine into the attack,
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 15:11
ACC : 104 all out (41.2 overs)
Punjab : 47-1 (6 overs)
Myburgh roars along to 24*, with Asad on 14*. The ACC bowlers have very little margin for error!
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 15:05
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Dosti : 14-0 (4 overs)
Rahil Ahmed and Mahesh Hans open for Dosti.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 14:12
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
VOC : 10-0 (2 overs)
Scott Edwards and Max O’Dowd off to a positive start for VOC: an over from Floyd and then he gives way to Reinier Bijloos, Overdijk from the other end.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 14:58
ACC : 104 all out (41.2 overs)
Punjab : 25-1 (3 overs)
Punjab’s chase gets off to a slightly rocky start, with Rehmat Zulfiqar caught by Anis Raza off Kumar: four and out. But Myburgh’s smacked three fours already, partnered now by Asad Zulfiqar.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 14:19
VRA : 244-5 (50 overs)
VRA finishing strong here, Boprren happy to take a knee to Heggelman’s medium pace odd they don’t have a man back for it. Sharp bit of work tracking back to the rope from Kroesen saves a boundary on Heggelman’s last ball, at least according to the visiting fans and the umpire. Roelfsma to bowl the last, Borren just misses out on a tree-four going inside out over cover, the next ball is a looping full toss well over the waist and a no ball. Flat batted straight to long on who takes the catch withut reward, hard run two the result, then another to the sweeper to broing Borren to 96, then to 98 again narrowly missing the tree, but then a single to point sends him to the non-striker’s on 99*. That’s where he’ll stay too, the last ball floated up at yorker length and Lees can only jam the bat down for a single. 245 will be the target after the break.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 14:16
HBS : 183 all out (50 overs)
HBS, on the other hand, have gone from 144 for three to 183 all out, losing their last seven wickets for 39 runs. Three wickets apiece for Boissevain and Dutt, at a cost of 49 and 27 respectively.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 14:12
HCC : 237-8 (50 overs)
Floyd goes for a 22-ball 39, caught by Hanif off Jain, who then takes a return catch from Ollie Klaus off the final delivery. But from where they were at 11:20, HCC will certainly take that!
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 14:09
ACC : 104 all out (41.2 overs)
Ul Haq gets Alangara Napoleon as well, and a disappointing ACC batting performance comes to an end. But Punjab’s attack has done another boa constrictor act, gradually squeezing the air out of the opposition.
Bertus de Jong 14:04
Every VRA four here is accompanied by a massive cheer from the hockey field across the way, where the Dutch national team are playing Germany. Can only assume they have the live stream up.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 14:04
Sparta : 217 all out (49.1 overs)
Last man Pradeep Kumar contributes a very useful 16, and with Sardha finishing on 33* Sparta have assembled a pretty decent total. Naseri gets Kumar, and has the excellent figures of four for 41.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 14:00
HCC : 216-5 (47.5 overs)
Floyd cashes in on the platform he inherits, racing to 32* off 18. Crowley’s moved to 82, but then he sweeps at Jain, misses, and is caught in front. Yash Patel in for the final flurry.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 13:59
VRA : 204-5 (46 overs)
Baker back into the attack and that’s the cure for Borren to bring out the reverse sweep, dinked for a couple over backward point and the next harder and squarer all the way to the boundary. Lees finds the rope too in Ingram’s next, cutting the last ball of his spell behind point for four. Kroesen on at the other end now, and his first ball is cut powerfully in front of square for four, and the next a carbon copy. 200 up for VRA and Borren on to 70*, Borren gets off strike with a bunt into the off side, Lees gets him back on strike stroking out to midwicket, then a push back straight catches the fielder on his heels and they run two. Excelsior looing strangely dozy in the field today. Heggelman returns.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 13:56
HBS : 172-8 (47 overs)
Walbrugh’s departure triggers a serious collapse, with Adil Ahmed bowled by Boissevain, , Ferdi Vink bowled by Dutt and De Mey caught and bowled by Boissevain. Benno Boddendijk and Martijn Scholte have the task of playing out the final overs.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 13:52
Sparta : 188-9 (43.2 overs)
The End Nigh for Sparta as well, as Max Hoornweg is trapped in front by Hoseinbaks.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 13:49
ACC : 104-9 (41 overs)
Arya gone, bowled by Ul Haq, and then Quinten Brouwer is caught behind off Nidamanuru. Van Vliet and Alangara Napoleon the last pair.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 13:45
VRA : 174-5 (43 overs)
Borren goes to fifty working Ingram to leg for a couple, Lees has started positively too, a cover drive for four wide of mid off off Stubbs the pick of his contribution. He’s on 12 now, still Ingram and Stubbs operating in tandem as the hosts look for acceleration.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 13:46
HBS : 161-5 (43.5 overs)
A vital wicket at Westvliet too, where Walbrugh is bowled by Boissevain for 82.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 13:43
HCC : 177-5 (43.3 overs)
And at last it comes: Overdijk steps away swinging at Van Baren and is bowled for 77. Clayton Floyd in to join Crowley, who’s on 75*.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 13:40
HCC : 174-4 (43 overs)
Still no breakthrough for VOC, as Crowley and Overdijk extend their partnership to 165. Crowley on 72*, Overdijk on 77*.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 13:37
ACC : 101-7 (36.3 overs)
Hannema’s caught behind off Nidamanuru for 6. Mees van Vliet in to join Arya.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 13:35
HBS : 148-4 (41 overs)
Ryan Klein comes and goes, bowled by Dutt for 3. Julian de Mey in at six.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 13:30
HBS : 144-3 (40 overs)
Drinks get the breakthrough at Westvliet, where Navjit goes for 42, caught by Stef Mulder off Bas de Leede. Walbrugh still there on 76*.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 13:28
Sparta : 173-7 (39 overs)
Sawan Sardha and Danish Umar batting now for Sparta.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 13:22
VRA : 141-5 (36 overs)
Scully with a Borren-esque gambit here, on one knee looking to slog sweep Stubbs over square. He misses. Stubbs hits. VRA captain still there 34, Mitch Lees will join him after drinks.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 13:23
HCC : 156-4 (40 overs)
Drinks at the Hazelaarweg, where Van Wingerden has given way to Hanif after three overs. Overdijk now on 74*, Crowley on 58*, the stand worth 147.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 13:17
ACC : 90-6 (33 overs)
Another for Hussain: Kumar trapped in front for 14. Hannema joins Arya.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 13:15
HBS : 134-2 (37 overs)
The scoring’s not yet in top gear, but Walbrugh’s moved on to 69* and Navjit to 40*, the partnership worth 105. HBS have a platform for a big last 13 overs . . .
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 13:11
VRA : 134-4 (33 overs)
Borren’s living dangerously, aiming sweeps with abandon, missed a couple and connected with one to give Gijs Kroesen a sitter on the rope at deep backward square, but it’s shelled. He’s ridden his luck to 30. Scully has a boundary and a single to his name meanwhile.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 13:08
HCC : 134-4 (36 overs)
Siebe van Wingerden into the attack at last, and this is a serious test for the young leggie, bowling to two batsmen who are well set, both with half-centuries. For Crowley has now moved on to 54*, with Overdijk in 57*.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 13:05
ACC : 84-5 (30 overs)
Potdar’s gone, caught by Irfan ul Haq off Mubashar Hussain for a patient 20. Devanshu Arya joins Kumar, who’s battled his way to 13*.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 13:02
Sparta : 156-6 (33 overs)
Naseri has claimed the priceless wicket of Bukhari, bowling him for 61. Nasrat Ibrahimkhil in to join Manminder Singh. But then Singh goes as well, caught off Naseri for 23. Dosti fighting back!
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 12:55
HCC : 116-4 (32 overs)
Fifty for Overdijk, and he and Crowley have now added 107 for the fifth wicket. Overdijk on 50*, Crowley on 45*, and it’s a huge change from 9 for four!
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 12:54
VRA : 113-4 (29 overs)
Balbirnie’s shown good intent against the spinners since coming in, good running between the wickets from this pair keeps the score edging up, but his cameo is brief, goes back to Ingram and is hit on the knee roll, looked a shade high from here but not to the umpire it seems. Finger summons Luke Scully to the middle on Topklasse debut.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 12:49
HBS : 105-2 (28 overs)
Another half-century for Walbrugh, and the hundred up for HBS. He’s now on 52*, and Navjit’s on 26*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 12:48
VRA : 103-3 (26 overs)
Szwarczynski goes to fifty driving Stubbs for four through mid off, but that’s as far as he’ll go as he edges behind pushing forward next ball. Balbirnie in to join Borren, who’s on 15*. Hundred up for VRA though, decent enough platform if they can hold this innings together.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 12:44
ACC : 69-4 (23 overs)
Survival still the name of the game for Potdar and Kumar at the Zomercomplex, and now Nidamanuru’s into the attack.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 12:41
HBS : 98-2 (25 overs)
De Leede’s tried six bowlers, but he can’t find the breakthrough: Walbrugh’s moved to 48*, Navjit’s on 25*, and the stand’s worth 69.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 12:38
VRA : 95-2 (25 overs)
First boundary in six overs as Szwarczynski drives Roelfsema to the long off boundary. Ingram replaces him next over, Borren and Szwarczynski happy to just milk the singles where they can be found. Stubbs on at the other end now taking over from Baker. VRA edging toward three figures.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 12:37
HCC : 91-4 (26 overs)
Crowley and Overdijk are mostly content to keep pushing the singles, with Seelaar, Van Baren and now Jelte Schoonheim keeping things tight. When Schoonheim offers the opportunity, though, Overdijk hits him for four; he’s now on 39*, with Crowley on 32*.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 12:28
Sparta : 112-4 (24 overs)
Bukhari’s still there, on 42*
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 12:26
ACC : 60-4 (18 overs)
Very slow progress for ACC with Sikander and Mubashar Hussain operating now for Punjab, but at least Potdar and Kumar are still there.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 12:20
VRA : 78-2 (19 overs)
Baker and Roelfsema continue after drinks, tidy from Baker, giving up just two singles. Roelfsema takes time to settle, couple of wides first up, overthrows give up an extra run two balls later, uncharacteristically sloppy from Excelsior this.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 12:18
Sparta : 101-4 (20.? overs)
Balwantsingh is bowled by Asief Hoseinbaks without scoring. Manminder Singh in at six.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 12:15
Sparta : 101-3 (19.1 overs)
Tarr has gone for 45 at the Bermweg, bowled by Naseri,, and Prithvi Balwantsingh joins Bukhari, who’s on 39*.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 12:08
VRA : 68-2 (17 overs)
Scoring has slowed appreciably sice the wicket, Roelfsema takes over from Heggelman. And he strikes in his second over as Cooper’s miserable season continues, spooned up to mid on for a simple catch. Borren in at four. Szwarczynski still there on 31. Borren off the mark pushing to midwicket off the last ball for one and that’s drinks.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 12:08
HBS : 64-2 (16 overs)
Likewise at Westvliet, Walbrugh (28*) and Navjit (13*) are continuing against Voorburg, if a little more sedately.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 12:05
HCC : 74-4 (17 overs)
This is turning into a very valuable partnership for HCC, with Crowley now on 26* and Overdijk on 32*. Seelaar has replaced Hanif from the Airport End.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 12:03
Sparta : 88-2 (17 overs)
Information is at a premium from the Bermweg, but it was Latif who was the second to go and Tarr and Bukhari are currently prospering for Sparta. Tarr’s on 39* (with 7 fours) and Bukhari 30*.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 11:58
ACC : 49-4 (13 overs)
Things go from bad to worse for ACC, as Zaidi’s caught behind off Sikander Zulfiqar for 11. Aryan Kumar in with Potdar now.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 11:53
HBS : 54-2 (12 overs)
Mason’s gone as well, caught by Bas de Leede off Ali Ahmed Qasim. Walbrugh and Navjit Singh together now, and building a platform for HBS. Voorburg, incidentally, are without Viv Kingma, presumably still recovering from his efforts in Utrecht on Monday.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 11:46
VRA : 52-1 (11 overs)
Spin on early as Baker comes into the attack, and immediate result. Singh goes back to one he shouldn’t have and it skids through into the stumps. Cooper in at three.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 11:45
HCC : 49-4 (11 overs)
No news is good news if you’re an HCC supporter: Crowley and Overdijk have been rebuilding, to the extent that they’ve seen off the new ball attack, replaced now by Bobby Hanif and Dirk van Baren.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 11:42
ACC : 43-3 (9.2 overs)
ACC in a spot of bother at the Zomercomplex: Anis Raza caught behind by Asad Zulfiqar off Sohail Bhatti, then Sahil Kothari, after smacking five boundaries, is caught by Yasir Usman in the covers off Suleiman Tariq. And now Bhatti’s got Krishna Hosur LBW as well. Shreyas Potdar joins last week’s hero, Ammar Zaidi.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 11:37
Sparta : 40-2 (6.2 overs)
Hans has claimed the vital wicket of Mudassar Bukhari, who opened for Sparta and who is now trapped in front for 4. Tarr has started aggressively, reaching 23* off 20 deliveries.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 11:35
VRA : 50-0 (8 overs)
Down leg and flicks off Szwarczynski’s pad to the rope for four leg byes. Next run down to third man for a single. Etman still at the other end, lovely shot from Szwarczynski just clipped off the toes but perfectly timed and races to the square boundary. Etman oversteps on the last but Singh misses out on the free hit. Rens van Troost takes over from Heggelman and the keeper comes up. Dug in short and sits up for Szwarczynski who uppercuts over point for four more. Couple of wides in the over and another short ball is hooked round the corner by Singh for four. Fifty up. Heggelman changes ends to replace Etman.
Voorburg vs HBS Craeyenhout 11:28
HBS : 21-1 (7 overs)
Meanwhile at Westvliet, where Ferdi Vink won the toss, Tobias Visée has been and gone, bowled by Sybrandt Engelbrecht for 6. Opening with a spinner to Visée is now almost a cliche, and it’s worked again. Reece Mason and Tayo Walbrugh in occupation now.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 11:23
HCC : 9-4 (4.2 overs)
Who can keep up with this? Gorlee gets a top edge off Fletcher, and is caught at cover by Tim de Kok. Hidde Overdijk joins Crowley with HCC reeling.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 11:21
VRA : 26-0 (5 overs)
Risky single in the next and Szwarczynski seems to have been watching too much football, slide-tackle style to make his ground, the next ball is pure cricket as he stands tall to cut late and hard behind square for four. Couple of wides either side of the wicket keep the scoreboard ticking. Another risky single on a fumbled pick-up, direct hit is a close run thing by Singh’s just safe. Too much width to Szwarczynski again and a lovely square drive beats the diving point fielder for four more. Back foot drive from Singh finds the rope square off the first ball of Etman’s next. Good start for the hosts.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 11:19
HCC : 9-3 (4 overs)
But Trijzelaar’s gone, in a moment that’s more Comedy of Errors than Hamlet. He pushes into the covers, they wait, there’s a midfield, they take one, and turn for a possible second. Yes, no, . . . and Trijzelaar’s stranded midpitch, unable to get back despite a fumble from Edwards. Damian Crowley joins Gorlee.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 11:15
HCC : 6-2 (3 overs)
A big over from Fletcher, who removes both openers in the space of five deliveries. First Musa is trapped in front, and then Staal edges to keeper Edwards. Daniël Trijzelaar and Boris Gorlee have the task of repairing the damage.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 11:12
Sparta : 14-1 (2 overs)
An early breakthrough for Dosti as Ali Raza, having hit Mahesh Hans for four, then offers him a return catch, which he grateful accepts. Waheed Masood’s first over is expensive though, as Mamoon Latif and Garnett Tarr take 12 from it without any boundaries.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 11:09
VRA : 7-0 (2 overs)
Niels Etman takes the new ball for Excelsior, Singh and Szwarczynski open for VRA. Singh off the mark third ball driving through extra for a couple, dots for the rest. Heggelman from the other end, Szwarczynski watches the first two through and then cuts the third away square to the rope.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 11:07
HCC : 4-0 (2 overs)
Pierce Fletcher opens from the Airport End to Musa Nadeem Ahmad; just a couple of wides off the first over. Arnav Jain from the Pavilion End, and a single apiece for Musa and Tonny Staal.
Punjab Rotterdam vs ACC 11:01
ACC : 0-0 ( overs)
And at the Zomercomplex Anis Raza has lost the toss and been invited to bat first.
Sparta 1888 vs Dosti-United 10:59
Sparta : 0-0 ( overs)
Aha! Vinoo Tewarie has won the toss at the Bermweg and invited Sparta to have a bat.
Rod Lyall 10:55
The rest is silence.
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 10:39
No Joost Kroesen for the visitors today, owing to happy personal reasons. Congrats to him. Roelfsema returns. Couple of changes for the hosts, Newcomer Luke Scully comes into the side, as does Ben Cooper back from national duty. Marcus Andrew and Shirase Rasool absent.
VOC Rotterdam vs HCC 10:40
HCC : 0-0 ( overs)
At the Hazelaarweg Tonny Staal has won the toss for HCC and elected to have a bat.
Rod Lyall 10:34
Or not . . .
VRA vs Excelsior ‘20 10:32
And the official word from the middle here is that Excelsior have won the toss and will be fielding first.
Rod Lyall 10:25
We’ll be hearing news of the tosses soon, and of course we’ll bring it to you as soon as we can. Might be a morning to bat?
Rod Lyall 10:15
Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone, and welcome to our live coverage of today’s final round of the first half of the 2021 Topklasse season. It looks as if it’s another great day for cricket, and hopefully we’ll be keeping you up to date with all of it. Bertus de Jong will be at VRA for the Amsterdam club’s vital clash with Excelsior, Sander Tholen will be out capturing live action with his camera, and I shall be keeping you up to date with developments elsewhere from our Sydney press box.
