| played | won | lost | tied | n/r | points | x̅ pts | NRR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCC | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | 3.540 |
| HBS | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | 3.197 |
| EXC | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | 1.371 |
| VOC | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | 1.064 |
| DOS | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| PJB | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| VRA | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 0 | -1.064 |
| VCC | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 0 | -1.371 |
| SPT | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 0 | -3.197 |
| ACC | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | 0 | -3.540 |
The Topklasse table after Round 1
Rod Lyall 18:58
Dr Johnson is reported to have said of a dog walking on its hind legs that ‘it is not done well, but you are surprised to find it done at all.’ There might have been signs of rust during today’s Topklasse matches, but they were for the most part done well, and it is indeed remarkable – and a great achievement by the clubs and the KNCB – that they took place at all. We hope you’ve enjoyed our live coverage, and that you’ll be back next week for more. In the meantime, there’ll be the table, scorecards and a review to catch up on, and our preview of next week’s fixtures. For the moment, though, this is Rod Lyall on a very early Sunday morning in Sydney, saying goodbye – and please stay safe.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 18:51
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 178-4 (37 overs)
Six for Stubbs off Boissevain brings the margin down to single figures, and a four off Van Beek levels the scores. Then he finishes it with another six, ending on a splendid 79 not out. Well supported by Niels Etman, who finishes with 19.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 18:41
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 155-4 (34 overs)
Excelsior closing in on the win, with Stubbs now on 62 and Etman on 13. De Leede’s running out of options, but he brings Van Beek back in search of the elusive breakthrough.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 18:36
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 142 all out (34.4 overs)
Hartsink lasts just one delivery, and VOC win by 50 runs.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 18:32
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 142-9 (34.3 overs)
And it’s Max O’Dowd who gets Abid, another stumping for Edwards. Luke Hartsink the last man.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 18:28
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 141-8 (34 overs)
The resistance continues, Turmaine and Ashir Abid pushing and scampering as if they still believe their cause is not lost. 52 needed from 13 overs, but at this stage it’s not really about the runs.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 18:18
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 77 all out (36.4 overs)
And it’s all over, Crowley wraps things up, Raza on the sweep but top edged toward backward square, where Vecchi, who had injured his right hand taking a fine catch earlier in the innings, nonchalantly grabs it with his left. Raza gone for 36, ACC all out for 77.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 18:13
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 120-8 (29.1 overs)
Finally it’s Seelaar who gets the breakthrough, bowling Lees for 27. He and Turmaine dded 53, but the end must surely now be nigh.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 18:10
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 136-4 (27 overs)
A half-century on Topklasse debut for Tristan Stubbs, coming from 47 deliveries and including four fours and two sixes. Niels Etman is holding his end up, and now just 37 are needed.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 18:06
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 74-9 (33 overs)
Overdijk back into the attack, just one from the 32nd. Raza’s dogged resistance continues as he edges towad a mention in the short scores, he’s on 34 now but loses another partner as Napoleon is bowled going back to one he shouldn’t have from Floyd. McInerney last man in.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 18:01
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 116-7 (26 overs)
Seelaar comes on himself as well, and Lees promptly lofts him back over his head and out of the bubble. 76 the deficit, 21 overs left.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 17:53
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 62-8 (28 overs)
Ahmad into the attack, tidy first over from him. Another maiden from Floyd to follow and then van Vliet can’t resist having a go. Shanks an expansive drive off Ahmad out to extra cover and well held. Alangra Napoleon in.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 17:52
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 118-4 (22.4 overs)
Bas de Leede gets the breakthrough Voorburg badly needed, bowling Shankar for 28. Stubbs is still there on 42, but with five wickets effectively down, the question is whether the Excelsior lower order can hang around to keep him company.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 17:48
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 101-7 (22 overs)
A dogged stand between Lees and Turmaine has got the deficit down below 100, and Seelaar has been forced to introduce a fourth bowler in the person of Schoonheim, Fletcher, Hanif and Jain having done all the work so far. This is determined resistance, but it’s hard to see them taking VRA all the way, with 92 still needed from 25 overs.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 17:38
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 60-7 (25 overs)
Raza playing something of a lone hand here, sweeps Crowley hard over midwicket for four, the game is long gone but gives his team mates something to cheer at least. The jollity doesn’t last though. Floyd back from the other end and has Zaidi smartly stumped on the third ball of the 25th. Hannema spoons his first ball up to mid on. Van Vliet in to face the hat-trick ball, blocks it back to Floyd and then watches the next through to the keeper.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 17:30
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 95-3 (17 overs)
The fifty partnership comes up between Stubbs and Shankar, who are on 35 and 18 respectively. 78 still needed, but plenty of overs left.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 17:28
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 51-5 (22 overs)
And another down, Knoll spoons Crowley up toward Ahmad who takes a well-judged catch coming in off the long on rope. Zaidi in and brings up the fifty with a push out toward cover for one.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 17:24
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 67-7 (14.2 overs)
Dasgupta is bowled by Hanif, who now has four for 29. Lees and Leon Turmaine at the crease, but VOC are storming towards victory.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 17:18
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 43-4 (19 overs)
Klaus gets the big wicket, Kothari caught for a belaboured 15 off 41. Chris Knoll in after drinks. Hard to see a way back for ACC from here.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 17:17
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 64-6 (13.2 overs)
But Borren falls to Hanif, caught by O’Dowd, and now it’s all up to Cooper, who’s been joined by Dasgupta. Except he, Cooper, falls in the next over, another stumping for Edwards off Jain, and VRA are in complete disarray.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 17:10
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 41-3 (18 overs)
The game had taken on something of an attritional tone, Ollie Klaus follows up a maiden to Raza with another tidy over that goes for just one. With the asking rate climbing Raza looks to target Crowley as he enters the attack, reverse sweeping for four and then sweeping up over backward square for a couple more.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 17:08
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 61-4 (11.4 overs)
Nashier is trapped in front by Jain, bringing Peter Borren to the crease. He and Cooper have some work to do.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 17:03
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 47-3 (12 overs)
Joost Kroesen departs in the first over of Ali Ahmed Qasim, bringing Sanjit Shankar in to join Stubbs. Excelsior in a spot of bother here.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 16:58
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 46-3 (9.3 overs)
Another for Hanif as Gunning depart for 1. Ben Cooper joins Khan, who’s on 26. But that’s all he’ll make, stumped by Edwards off Jain. VOC are very much back in this. Udit Nashier in at five.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 16:50
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 21-3 (12 overs)
Trijzelaar returns, but offers Kothari too much width and is cut uppishly through point for the first boundary of the innings. Raza’s not been able to get going though, he’s still on just 2 off 17. Klaus back now replacing Overdijk at the other end.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 16:50
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 39-2 (9.2 overs)
A wicket at Thurlede as well, as Van Beek bowls Verhagen for 10. Enter Stubbs, joining Kroesen in the middle.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 16:46
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 39-1 (6.2 overs)
And when Hanif switches to the Airport End he’s immediately rewarded with a return catch from Singh. A much-needed wicket for VOC! Quirijn Gunning in at three.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 16:43
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 38-0 (6 overs)
Arnav Jain quickly replaces Hanif but VRA push on, Zamaan Khan making most of the running with Singh seemingly content to keep rotating the strike.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 16:39
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 26-1 (7 overs)
Kingma and Van Beek are maintaining the pressure as they need to do defending a fairly low total, but Verhagen and Kroesen are holding firm. There’s Tristan Stubbs to come, but after that Excelsior do have a pretty long tail.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 16:36
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 12-3 (9 overs)
ACC digging in now, HCC very much on top of them. Overdijk’s over to Kothari is marred only by a single wide. Three slips and a gully in for him. Klaus replaces Trijzelaar at the other end.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 16:25
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
ACC : 8-3 (6 overs)
Overdijk strikes now with the last ball of the fifth, Ramesh well held by Vecchi with a fantastic diving grab, covering a lot of ground from mid on. And the collapse is on! Floyd cleans up Kumar two balls later Raza in.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 16:24
VOC : 192-9 (47 overs)
VRA : 16-0 (2 overs)
VRA are chasing 193 for victory, and open with Vikram Singh and Zamaan Khan. 7 come from a rather wild initial over from Pierce Fletcher, and Bobby Hanif starts with a couple of wides as well. Not an ideal start from the home side.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 16:16
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
Excelsior : 6-1 (2 overs)
They’re back on at Thurlede, and it’s not a great welcome home for Tim Etman, who’s trapped in front by Viv Kingma at the end of the first over. Tom Heggelman joins Roel Verhagen, but almost immediately has to retire hurt, bringing Joost Kroesen to the crease.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 16:08
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
HBS : 103-1 (19.4 overs)
It’s all over at Craeyenhout, HBS easing their way to a 9-wicket victory with more than 30 overs to spare. Reece Mason finished it with a boundary to end on 41, with Navjit Singh on 26.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 15:56
VOC : 1??-8 (47 overs)
A final flurry of runs and wickets proves too much for the online scoring system, leaving us in the dark about VOC’s final score. We’re guessing 195ish for eight, but we hope we’ll know more by the time VRA begin their reply.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 15:38
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
HBS : 67-1 (12 overs)
Sparta have managed to slow things down since Visée’s departure, but it’s wickets they need, and it’s hard to see where they’re going to come from with Mason and Navjit steadily knocking off the runs.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 15:26
HCC : 254-6 (50 overs)
Napoleon with the last, Patel and Floyd throwing bat at everything. Patel pops up a big miscue to mid on and goes for 8, that’s the only contact made until the final ball, pushed out to long off for two. After a flying start for HCC, the hosts have done well to haul them back in. 250’s a good score at het Loopveld but chaseable on a wicket that’s playing true. Still a lot of runs to get for ACC’s young line-up after an al-fresco lunch though.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 15:24
VCC : 172-6 (50 overs)
De Grooth (22*) and Philippe Boissevain (29* from 27 deliveries) see it through to the end, adding 52 for the seventh wicket. Baker finishes with three for 29. As they say, you never know how good a total is until both sides have batted.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 15:22
VOC : 171-6 (42 overs)
Rutgers goes, bowled by Leon Turmaine for 21. Jelte Schoonheim in with five overs left.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 15:20
HCC : 249-5 (49 overs)
Napoleon offers the first boundary ball of the death, short and sitting up for Patel who whips it round the corner to the rope behind square. Two balls later he goes too full and is driven through extra cover by Floyd for four more. He takes six more off Kumar in the 49th, high and handsome over long on to take the score to 249.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 15:18
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
HBS : 50-1 (6.4 overs)
Mudassar Bukhari back into the attack to remove the dangerous Visée, caught by Danish Umar, for an 18-ball 29. It’s his 350th wicket in the top flight, but it’s unlikely to be enough to turn this game Sparta’s way. Navjit Singh joins Mason.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 15:13
VOC : 160-5 (40 overs)
Jain and Rutgers steering their side towards a pretty challenging total – seven overs to go, and 200 within reach.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 15:09
HCC : 224-5 (47 overs)
Great stop from van Vliet at backward point creates a run-out chance, but it goes begging in the end, ACC doing well there though, three overs without a boundary. And the pressure tells, Kumar gets Gorlee who holes out to Raza on the square boundary. Patel in, HCC stumbling at the death here.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 15:03
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
HBS : 37-0 (4 overs)
Visée is quickly into his stride, smacking Manminder Singh back over his head for a brace of sixes. He’s on 22, Mason’s on 14, and HBS seem unlikely to hang around chasing down this target.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 15:01
HCC : 218-4 (45 overs)
Napoleon back for the 44th, half chance as Overdijk goes through the air out toward the cover boundary but the fielder hangs back rather than risk diving over it. Neither bat can find the boundary though off Napoleon though. Kumar again for the 45th, and Overdijkfalls looking to force the pace, looks to go high over long off but doesn’t get a hold of it, well held on the cover boundary. Floyd in to join Gorlee, who is on 59*.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 14:56
VCC : 127-6 (44 overs)
A third wicket for Baker, and a crucial one as he bowls Engelbrecht for 31. The Voorburg tail will need to wag here, held together by De Grooth, if they are to set Excelsior a menacing target.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 14:51
HCC : 210-3 (43 overs)
Kumar returns to the attack for the 43rd, looks for the bumper to Gorlee on the final ball and is hooked around behind square for four. Gorlee has his half century now too, Overdijk rapidly into the thirties. HCC looking for the big finish.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 14:51
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
HBS : 5-0 (1 over)
HBS have started their reply, with Reece Mason and Tobias Visée opening against the seam of Mudassar Bukhari and the spin of Manminder Singh.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 14:48
VOC : 134-5 (32.3 overs)
But Seelaar goes as Gunning returns and gets a key breakthrough. Corey Rutgers joins Jain with the game very much in the balance.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 14:41
HCC : 195-3 (41 overs)
The men in the middle seem to sense the need for acceleration, Overdijk looks to slog sweep Raza on the last ball of the 39th, swirling top edge is put down by mid on tracking back and diving to get a hand on it. Zaidi still from the city end, no ball on the third and the free hit is is sliced away through backward point by Overdijk for four. Kothari comes in for punishment in the 41st, Overdijk taking him for back-to-back boundaries with a one-bounce four through long on followed by a six over long off onto the vegetation.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 14:41
VCC : 117-5 (40 overs)
Heggelman back into the attack, and he gets the breakthrough by bowling Van Beek for 20. Engelbrecht’s gone on to 30, and is joined by Tom de Grooth.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 14:27
VOC : 112-4 (26 overs)
Van Baren hits a return catch to Vikram Singh and departs for 13. Arnav Jain in to join Seelaar, who really needs to anchor this innings now.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 14:23
VCC : 101-4 (35 overs)
Engelbrecht and Van Beek steady the ship, while Tristan Stubbs is rolling his arm over economically for Excelsior.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 14:21
HCC : 169-3 (37 overs)
Kothari back for ACC, still Zaidi at the other end. They’re doing well to keep HCC contained here, Overdijk drives Zaidi square of cover for the first boundary in the last five overs or so. Drinks again here, HCC with a platform but struggling to accelerate at the moment.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 14:11
HCC : 159-3 (34 overs)
Crowley and Gorlee take HCC past 150, Raza and Zaidi operating for ACC, and Zaidi’s the man to find the wicket. Hannema again with work to do behind the stumps, albeit nothing too challenging as Crowley nicks off swiping at a wide one. Overdijk in to join Gorlee, who’s on 37*.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 14:10
Sparta : 102 all out (29.5 overs)
Over which they topple, as Ferdi Vink comes back to finish it off. He bowls Snoep, and Sparta close on 102. Ryan Klein ends with three for 17, two wickets apiece for Vink, Geenevasen and De Mey.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 14:04
Sparta : 101-9 (29 overs)
Snoep and Saleem get the total past the hundred, but then Klein returns to end Saleem’s aggressive cameo. Another catch for young Yoran Visée, and Sparta on the brink.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 14:00
VOC : 91-3 (17 overs)
Drinks at the Hazelaarweg, with Seelaar and Van Baren rebuilding the VOC innings after that brace of wickets removing the well-established pair of De Kok and Edwards. Hartsink and Borren making it as difficult as possible.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 13:56
VCC : 78-4 (27 overs)
Umar Baker traps De Leede in front for a patient 26. Logan van Beek joins Engelbrecht in what must count as the engine-room of the Voorburg line-up.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 13:53
Sparta : 84-8 (25 overs)
A second wicket for De Mey and a third catch for Adil Ahmed as Manminder Singh goes for 9. Snoep’s still there, and is joined by Usman Saleem.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 13:49
HCC : 134-2 (27 overs)
Knoll finally finds reward on the final ball of the 26th after an extended period of pressure, hung outside the off stump, Staal throws his hands after it and feathers through to the Hannema behind the stumps. Damien Crowley in at four to join Gorlee, who’s on 30.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 13:48
VOC : 87-3 (14.5 overs)
Edwards does go this time (sorry about the confusion before), fishing at Borren outside off stump and snaffled by Mitch Lees behind the stumps. Dirk van Baren in at five
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 13:40
HCC : 131-1 (24 overs)
First chance for a while as Gorlee drives Knoll uppishly toward mid off, but falls just short of the man. Staal takes the attack back to ACC in the next, slamming Kothari over midwicket for six. Knoll still from the other end, Staal and Gorlee picking the ones and twos, HCC laying a solid foundation here. The wicket looks favourable for batting but the visitors could be on for an unassailable total here.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 13:40
VOC : 73-2 (13.1 overs)
First change in the VRA bowling, as Luke Hartsink replaces Abid from the Pavilion End. Borren takes over from Gunning at the other end, but Edwards and De Kok continue on their merry way. And as I write that, De Kok takes Hartsink on and holes out to Ben Cooper at mid-on for 38. Edwards is on 30, and is joined by Pieter Seelaar.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 13:33
VCC : 55-3 (20.2 overs)
Dutt doesn’t last long before he’s bowled by Rens van Troost. De Leede’s still there on 17 as Sybrand Engelbrecht comes to the crease.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 13:30
Sparta : 69-7 (20.1 overs)
Butt is bowled by Julian de Mey as Sparta’s slide continues. Joost Martijn Snoep joins Singh.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 13:29
HCC : 116-1 (21 overs)
Knoll comes in for a bit of stick first over after drinks, Gorlee hauling him away over the on side and into the bushes for the first six of the innings to bring up the hundred for the visitors. Staal cuts Kothari away for four in front of point in the next, ACC look to have settled to their task but both batsmen well set now, finding the boundary regularly depsite the lack of assistance from the outfield.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 13:23
VOC : 45-1 (8 overs)
Edward and De Kok prospering against Gunning and Abid, De Kok lofting the latter over long off for six to move on to 21, Edwards on 19.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 13:19
Sparta : 59-6 (17.4 overs)
And Latif goes for a duck, well caught by Ryan Klein off Geenevasen. Manminder Singh in now.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 13:12
HCC : 95-1 (17 overs)
Knoll into the attack to replace van Vliet, decent start from him but overthrows allow a couple before Staal pushes out through point for one to bring up his half century. Gorlee decides he’s seen enough of Kothari, down the track to whip him through the on side for four on the second ball of the 16th, looks to go over off on the next, miscued in the air but falls safe. Seven from the over and that will be drinks.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 13:12
Sparta : 57-5 (17.1 overs)
Umar’s vigil comes to an end, trapped in front by Sander Geenevasen. Mamoon Latif in at seven, and Sparta have a lot of work to do.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 13:02
HCC : 86-1 (14 overs)
ACC have calmed things down in the middle with that wicket, van Vliet seems to have found his rythm. Staal finds the first boundary in some time driving a perfectly decent ball out through long off to the rope. Kothari into the attack and a good start from him, just the one run off the bat but the last ball beats both bat and keeper for three byes.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 13:01
VCC : 36-2 (14 overs)
Umar Baker gets Pieterse with his first ball, caught by Rens van Troost for a dogged 14. Aryan Dutt joins Bas de Leede in the middle.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 12:59
Sparta : 50-4 (14.5 overs)
Umar and Balwantsingh have been restoring Sparta’ fortunes somewhat, Umar living a little dangerously, but the introduction of Navjit Singh brings another wicket. He bowls Balwantsingh for 16, and Sherry Butt comes in to join Umar, on 21.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 12:56
VOC : 8-1 (1.4 overs)
And a quick breakthrough for VRA, Ashir Abid bowling O’Dowd with his fourth delivery. Tim de Kok joins Edwards.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 12:52
HCC : 75-0 (12 overs)
Finally the breakthrough for ACC, van Vleit finds a way through Ahmad’s defences, clean bowled for 25. Staal still there on 41. Gorlee in at three.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 12:52
VOC : 8-1 (1 over)
Under way at the Hazelaarweg, with Scott Edwards (the newly-crowned Jack Ryder first-grade Player of the Season in Victoria) and Max O’Dowd opening for VOC. Edwards takes six off Quirijn Gunning’s first over from the Airport End, a couple of wides helping the total as well.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 12:38
HCC : 62-0 (9 overs)
Ahmad brings up the fifty partnership pushing Napoleon through the covers, but otherwise a decent couple of overs for ACC, before Staal puts van Vliet back over his head on the first ball of the eighth for four more. Mid-off belatedly goes back. Lots of work to haul this back for the hosts.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 12:34
VOC : (overs)
At Hazelaarweg Pieter Seelaar has won the toss and VOC will have a bat in a match reduced to 47 overs a side.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 12:31
Sparta : 21-3 (7 overs)
Bukhari’s gone as well, making to pull Klein and succeeding only in finding teenage debutant Yoran Visée at mid-on. Sparta now in a real spot of bother as Prithvi Balwantsingh comes to the crease.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 12:25
VCC : 7-1 (5 overs)
Voorburg, by contrast, are finding the going tough at Thurlede, and Niels Etman has had Hingorani caught behind by Roel Verhagen for 4. Skipper Bas de Leede joins Pieterse.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 12:22
HCC : 45-0 (5 overs)
Another attractive square drive from Ahmad off Kumar beats McInerney to the rope through point, despite a decent sliding dive. The next gives the field no chance as it’s cut hard in front of third. Staal still showing aggression, hits van Vliet straight and high for four more on the first ball of the third, then drives uppishly wide of cover where McInerney does well to get a hand to it but can’t hold on. The fifth looked to be going better for the hosts until Kumar strays too straight to Staal and is clipped through square for four. Staal follows up with a lofted straight drive, then slams a low full toss dead straight between mids on and off. 12 runs in three balls, HCC flying.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 12:21
Sparta : 16-2 (4.5 overs)
Another wicket for HBS, and a first Topklasse scalp for debutant Ryan Klein. A second catch for Ahmed as Ali Raza goes for 7. Mudassar Bukhari joins Umar in the middle.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 12:13
Sparta : 11-1 (3 overs)
A wicket at Craeyenhout, Craig Ambrose caught by Adil Ahmed off Ferdi Vink’s first ball of the season. Danish Umar is on 8, and has been joined by Ali Raza.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 12:07
HCC : 17-0 (2 overs)
Tonny Staal and Musa Ahmad opening for HCC, Staal shows some early intent depositing Raza back high over his head on the fifth ball, plugs in the verdant outfield just inside the boundary and dribbles over the rope. Mees van Vliet a little wayward in his first over, three wides and then driven handsomely through the covers by Ahmad for four more.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 12:05
VCC : 4-0 (1 over)
Niels Etman takes the new ball for Excelsior, bowling to Mohit Hingorani, who clips the fifth delivery for four. Heggelman from the other end to Righardt Pieterse.
HBS Craeyenhout vs Sparta 1888 11:50
Sparta : (overs)
And at Craeyenhout new HBS skipper Ferdi Vink has won the toss and put Sparta in.
ACC Amsterdam vs HCC 11:47
HCC : ( overs)
Tonny Staal has won the toss at Het Loopveld and elected to bat.
VOC Rotterdam vs VRA 11:45
VOC : (overs)
VRA : (overs)
The start has been delayed at Hazelaarweg due to a damp pitch. We’ll keep you posted.
Excelsior ’20 vs Voorburg 11:41
VCC : (overs)
And the first match news comes from Thurlede, where Tom Heggelman has won the toss and invited Voorburg to have a bat.
Rod Lyall 11:33
There’s been lots of testing going on in line with the COVID protocols, and the news so far is encouraging.
Rod Lyall 11:28 We’re hearing that the match between Dosti and Punjab, scheduled for Sportpark Drieburg tomorrow, has been postponed until 9 May because of positive COVID tests in the Dosti camp. Unfortunate, but it shows that the system is working – Dosti players have been in precautionary quarantine since Wednesday. We wish them all well.
Bertus de Jong 11:26
Tomorrow’s scheduled game between Dosti and Punjab, as you may have heard, has been pushed back by a week. Reasons not confirmed as yet but inevitably rumours are swirling that the Corona virus has thrown another of it’s seemingly bottomless bag of spanners into the works. A smattering of selection news from elsewhere, HBS will be without new arrival Tayo Walburgh today, who’s still stuck in quarantine. Young Yoran Visée is set to make his debut for the Crows we hear after impressing in warm-ups. Jack Balbirnie and and Eric Szwarczynski are missing for VRA owing to illness or proximity to it, so Pete Borren will be drawing on VRA’s teenage reserves rather more heavily than he’d hoped today.
Rod Lyall 11:25 Bouquets to the KNCB, by the way, for having cleared the way for the Men’s Topklasse – and the Women’s Hoofdklasse – to get under way at the usual time, and for the technical innovations which will hopefully make this season’s coverage easier for us and more enjoyable for you.
⛅ Weather Update ⛅ 11:20
There’s been a bit of rain about this morning, but it looks to be clearing up here. Plenty of cloud about but nothing too threatening and sunshine for now. The radar bodes well elsewhere too, with the south of the country looking largely clear. With a little luck today’s proceedinsh should be free of interruption.
Rod Lyall 11:20
Good morning (or afternoon, or evening) everyone, wherever you may be in the world, and welcome to TKcricket’s unique live coverage of the opening round of this season’s Topklasse campaign, played under special COVID-19 conditions. Bertus de Jong will be bringing us all the news from ‘t Loopveld, where ACC are taking on HCC, cameraman Sander Tholen is at Thurlede for the match between Excelsior ’20 and Voorburg, and thanks to the wonders of the internet I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments from my desk here in Sydney. The tosses will be taking place in ten minutes or so, so jump aboard, fasten your seatbelts, and enjoy the ride!
Bertus de Jong 11:09
Good morning one and all, and welcome back. We’re about 20 minutes away from the toss here at het Loopveld, and presumably the situation is similar around the country, the default start time for the 2021 Season having been pushed back to 12 noon in deference to added covid testing complications and, I like to imagine, my own personal preferences. Plenty of time then to check out the Season Previews that we’ve prepared for you, and this round’s head to head preview, where Rod Lyall and I resume our traditional Topklasse guessing game.
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