Topklasse Live

And it’s all over! Blankestijn back, which almost seems like overkill at this point. Back opf a length and Malikzai gamely has a go at a pull shot, and gets bat on it, but only an edge that is gleefully collected by van Troost as the Thurlede faithful burst into celebration. Excelsior win by 124 runsand claim the 2026 Hoofdklasse title.

Another for Ayre, temps Ahmadullah into a shot, miscued high but not far and and held first slip. Almost over now. Malikzai last man.

Heggelman still, and two balls in he strikes, Lubbers hanging the bat outside off, inside edge clateers into the woodwork. And again in his next, Naqash this time, expansive drive and a thick outside edge held deep backward point. Ahmadullah and Usmanzai to try to salvage something of the innings now.

Disaster after drinks for Salland as new man Mandy nicks the second ball after the resumption through to the gloves, then two balls later Victor Lubbers punches through the ring on the on side and sets off, only to see Naqash has stayed rooted to the spot, he’s half way down and it’s hopeless, run out for none. Reinder Lubbers in, Salland in freefall.

Spin it is, Riley Ayre on, but doesn’t go that well. Takes a knee to slog his second ball over cow to the rope, then lofts the next over mid on for four more. Heggelman still pitching it up from the other end looking for swing that I don’t think is there to be had anymore, van Troost standing up to him. Pulls his length back a tad for the last three balls though and suddenly looks more threatening. It’s Ayre that gets the next though, shade long of a length and Piyaranga pushes forward at it, pops up a tricky low return catch and Ayre does well to get down to it in his follow through, and the catch will trigger the first drinks break.

Naqash starting positively despite the circumstances, anything overpitched being put away through the infield. Piyaranga too now, welcomes Heggelman to the attack by twice threading him through the covers to the rope. Not sure the third seamer was really needed today, time for some spin?

Piyaranga finds the first boundary for Salland, a thick outside edge off Balkestijn wide of the cordon to the rope, Blankestijn won’t mind that though, and if he did he’s probably forgotten now as he nicks off Tim Seeto two balls later. Very big wicket that, Salland in deep trouble and risk of an early finish here. Naqash in, Salland and anyone hoping for a full afternoon’s cricket in dire need of a partnership now.

Bang bang, as they say. Back of a length from Blankestijn,Khan on the pull, big top edge held on the rope at squarish deep fine. Piyaranga joins Seeto and the home team have their tails up.

Edward’s excellent weekend continues, full and shaping away, Mutahidi aims a huge swing at it, nicked and held Ayre first slip. Seeto at three.

And we’re back. Talha Khan and Jamshed Mutahidi openfor Salland, Jens Balnkestijn with ne ball in hand. Too much width first up and cut away, but well run down. on the pads next up and glanced for one more, but the next two are on the money, beats the outside edge, then Khan well in behind the next. Balnkestijn looks to be bowling at a decent clip here. Edward to share the new ball.

Both bats swinging hard but the timing’s not quite there, hard running brings another four runs before Kroesen swings hard across the line, misses and plumb. Blankenstijn in for the last two balls, a single and a chipped two off those takes Excelsior to 188-9 at the break.

Naqash continues, looking for yorkers but he’s not really nailing the length, second full toss is turned around the corener for a couple, but still no boundaries. And it will be Malikzai to bowl the last.

Another for Malikzai, and no doubt about that as he takes Schewe’s off pole first ball of the 48th. Gijs Kroesen in, and off the mark third ball, but boundaries remain elusive.

Four runs off Malikzai in the 46th, frustration building on and off the field as Schewe belts one over extra but it doesn’t have the legs to get to the rope. Sahir Naqash into the attack for the first time for the 47th, and first boundary in ten overs comes off a thick edge as van Troost flashes hard at a wide one, away through acres of space behind point. Next ball is full and straight though, van Troost across his stumps and falling over it, low into the pads dead in front. Hint of an inside edge? Would be the only thing that could save him, and it doesn’t. Edward in, and Edward out, full and into the pads again, angling down leg though you’d say, strangled appeal brings nothing but Edward’s well out of his crease, Naqash quick with the pick-up-and underarms into the stumps. Heggelman in.

Van Troost now breaking out the sweep again looking to force the pace, but can’t get hold of Ahmadullah, who copletes an excellent spell of 1-25 in 10. Malikzai back at the other end to bowl out one imagines.

Pressure tells, or is it the heat? Very tired looking shot from Verhagen as he’s on the back foot and wafting at Ahmadullah, off the face low to the bowler’s left, does well to get down fingers under it and Verhagen gone for 47. Schewe in, van Troost still there on 18*.

Ahh so just a change of ends for Talha Khan then, he and Ahmadullah operating in tandem now, and to good effect. Runs still barely trickling here, heat looks to be taking its toll on the bats too as van Troost paddle sweeps fine into space but they can’t find the second run off it. Six an over gets them to 199 fom here, but looks like that will be a struggle. Khan has five left, Ahmadullah three, Malikzai bowled out but all other options available.

Khan’s left arm spin has looked a handful since coming on after drinks, turns one into Verhagen’s pads now and pleads to Akram again, lone appeal this time though and Akram unmoved, did look to be turning down leg. Malikzain back at the other end now, and van Troost finally finds the rope just opening the face to guide it fine through third into the home dugout. Verhagen still struggling fo fluency though, Malikzai squares him up two balls later, then extracts a leading edge which he really should have held onto above his head. Ahmadullah coming back now to replace Khan from the scoreboard end, an odd shout with Khan looking a threat.

Sense of urgency creeping in after drinks as Verhagen takes on Lubbers’ arm looking for a quick single, might have been tight but needed a direct hit and it’s inches wide. Ayre in trouble next ball though, prods tentatively forward at Khan but doesn’t get near the pitch of it, struck on the pad, no hesitation from the umpire. He goes for 20, Stan van Troost to the middle with the hosts under real pressure. Still six wickets in hand but struggling to find the requistite acceleration.

Drinks again and the lid still more or less on, Usmanzai bowls out to finish with a very creditable 2-17 from his ten. Verhagen on 25* off 61, Ayre 18* off 30. Looks like Talha Khan into the attack after the break.

Mutahidi loses his rhythm somewaht back end of the 28th, wide outside off, then a full toss which Ayre pulls away to the rope behind square to take Excelsior to three figures, despite a committed effort from Victor Lubbers (we think) on the rope. And another full toss follows but misses out this time as he cloughs it to backwadr square on the bounce. Down leg from Usmanzai next over and nearly stumped off a wide, good work from Piyaranga standing up but Ayre’s just back in time.

Occasional release shot still coming here and there as Ayre cuts Mutahidi behind point for a hard-run three, then sweeps Ahmadullah behind square for four in the next over. but this pair have done a good job keeping a lid on the scoring. Usmanzai coming back at the scoreboard end now.

A double change in fact, with Mutahihi on at the other end now for Malikzai, and almost instant reward as Etman is cramped on the cut, edged through and into the gloves. He goes for 32, Riley Ayre in.

Sticking with seam after drinks, Malikzai still with a maiden on Etman for the 16th. Ah and now the change comes, time for some legspin as young Ahmadullah comes into the attack, just a single off his first.

This pair still happy to just wait on a ball they like the look of, Verhagen gets one such from Unsmanzai just before drinks and lifts it over mid of for four more. It’s getting very hot out there, early extra drinks it is..

Brief spell of pressure after the wicket is broken when Malikzai overpitches and Etman drives hard through the covers for four, and three balls later Verhagen finds his first boundary with a picture-perfect flick through midwicket.

Lubbers travails continue as Prinsloo puts the last ball of the 8th back over his head for six, and Usmanzai comes in for some tap at the other end now as Prinsloo takes him for two straight boundaries now, the second lands flush on the rope from my (excellent) vantage point but given four, hey ho. Usmanzai has the last laugh now though, as Prinsloo takes a knee looking to slog over midwicket, thick edge spirals up and Mandy takes a fine catch tracking back from the edge of the circle. Verhagen in, looks like Malikzai to replace Lubbers.

Maiden from Lubbers on Prinsloo for the fourth as he seems to be settling into a rhythm, speculative shout for LBW in there too as Primsloo inside edges into his pads. Couple of singles in Usmanzai’s next, and then Etman driving Lubbers hard over mid off for four seems to unsettle him, five wides follow, 12 off the over. Usmanzai still looking threatening at the other end though, just one off his next.

Less tidy from Reinder Lubbers at the other end though as Etman drives his first ball through extra to the rope. A few ones and twos round out the over, but Salland have their first in the next, and a big wicket too. Usmanzai draws Wood forward, off balance and nicked behind, helf first slip and gone for 1. Prinsloo at three.

Saqib Usmanzai opens the bowling for Salland, Tim Etman and Jack Wood in the middle for the hosts. Tidy first over from the left armer, just a misfield at cover first ball giving up a single.

Big selection surprise today is that none other than Tom Heggelman is playing for Excelsior. First game of the season for him, though he’s been training hard. Excelsior had been experimenting with a rotating cast of third seamers and wound up back with the tried and trusted veteran we gather.

Word from the middle is that Excelsior have won the toss and elected to bat.