Topklasse Live | Round 1 | As it Happened

Croes and Engelbrecht finish it in a flurry, taking a boundary apiece off Overdijk junior, then Croes picking up another off Venter. A single pushed into the covers brings the finish, and a result that looked improbable a couple of hours ago. Croes finishes on 31, Engelbrecht on 17.

When Venter strays onto leg stump Engelbrecht puts him away for four to get off the mark. Jan-Wieger Overdijk on from the Pavilion End, with 25 needed from eight. They can do it in singles from here, although in the end NRR might be important. A tidy over, but three for Engelbrecht through mid-on off the final ball undoes a lot of very good work..

Henrico Venter on in place of Crowley, who bowled a really good five-over spell. His replacement’s a bit less accurate, but only five come from his first, including a couple of wides. And Voorburg are Croesing (sorry!), as he unleashes a lovely straight drive to the long on boundary off Floyd, then sweeps behind square for another. 31 needed off nine overs. But all is not quite lost, as Venter induces an edge from Musa and Alphonse takes the catch. New skipper Engelbrecht in at four..

Voorburg need a boundary every over or so to stay ahead of the rate, and Musa obliges by putting Crowley away behind point. Then he doubles down off Floyd, driving him twice through the covers to race into double figures. Ten off that over in all. Another tidy over from Crowley, just a brace of twos for Musa. But Voorburg are halfway to their target.

Floyd replaces Overdijk, and he might be the Lions’ best chance of a breakthrough. And sho’ ‘nuff, he gets it! A single apiece, and then he beats Levitt’s forward defensive and hits the stumps. Levitt goes for 14, bringing Musa Ahmad to the crease.

Crowley, on the other hand, is bowling a fifth stump line, twice beating Levitt’s bat. The next one’s shorter and a tad wider, and is despatched effortlessly through point for four. Six off it, five from the bat and a leg-bye . . . and the sun comes out! Pale and interesting, maybe, but very welcome. Croes greets it by driving Overdijk through extra cover for four, his first real attacking shot. But that was a much better over. So’s Crowley’s third, restricting Levitt to a single to third man and keeping Croes on the defensive. HCC really need a wicket or two, though.

Crowley strays down leg, and Croes turns him behind square for a single. Then Levitt hoists him into vacant territory wide of mid-on for a couple, and pushes a sharp single on the on side. Four off it. Overdijk again, and an inside edge to square leg gets Levitt another two. That was better, but the wide-and-full strategy produces more wides. You can see what he’s trying to do, but the margin for error is tiny.

Levitt and Croes open, with Hidde Overdijk taking the new ball from the Pavilion End. He starts with a wide outside off, then another; standard T20 tactic to go wide and full, but he’s getting too much away movement. And another. That’s better, pitching just outside off and arcing away. But there’s another! But now Levitt is forced to play, defensively into the off side., and he’s beaten by the next. Still three left in the over. Good grief! Runs off the bat, pushed away square for a couple. A play and a miss, then a fifth wide. Dot to finish. An eventful over, but not in the way Overdijk would have wanted. Daniel Crowley from the Paddock End.

And the news is that Voorburg will have 22 overs to make 98 to win. HCC are out there warming up, and we may have some cricket!!!.

And in a last sign of hope that something might be salvaged from this miserable opening day, THE COVERS ARE OFF AGAIN at Westvliet! No guarantee of play, of course, but the ground staff are busy with forks and such..

There’s been a lot of discussion going on at Westvliet, but not so far leading to any decision. The covers are still on, bu,t there’s been no sign yet of the umpires and captains calling it a day.

And it’s done at Bermweg too. Wet and Match Abandoned.

Well we didn’t make it to the 17.15 inspection. We’re done here. Match Abandoned.

Another inspection at 17.15 here, but it’s not getting any drier out there. Covers back on, steady drizzle. VRA may think they’ll have a decent shot at smashing out a 20-over target if they do get back on but that implies a very long wait. Doesn’t seem like anyone has the patience for that…

Punjab and VOC bow to the inevitable. Match Abandoned.

Out they go. Heads shaking, but not hands as yet. VRA are out there running fielding drills, presumably just to send a message as there’s no way they’ll be fielding again today.

Confirmation now that ACC and HBS have thrown in the proverbial towel. Match Abandoned.

Meanwhile in the only active game at the momnent, Joost Kroesen managed 11 runs against his former team-mates before falling to Hart, caught Ingram. Bukhari still there, having compliled an uncharacteristically circumspect 50 off 96 balls, but the rain is back. That will be the end of the Sparta innings one imagines.

The rain has returned at Westvliet, and the covers are on again. All bets on a restart are, however, off.

Word coming in from ‘t Loopveld, and it’s not good. Handshakes happening, looks like an abandonment…

Inspection at 16.30 here, but nobody’s terribly optimistic. One of the run-ups is pretty damp we hear.

Never mind it’s raining again.

Looking at a 16.30 resumption at the Zomercomplex. 34 overs each way is the expectation, inspection permitting.

The covers are off at Westvliet, and there will apparently be an inspection about 16:00, with a view to possibly resuming at 16:30. That would give us a 36-over match, so another nine overs for HCC. Nothing’s nailed down yet, so watch this space!.

They’re back on at Bermweg, match reduced to 38 overs aside we’re told. And Will Clark brings up his debut half-century before falling for 54, caught off Umar Baker. Joost Kroesen to the middle, he’ll be facing his brother Gijs next over .

There’s movement at Westvliet, to the extent that they’ve started working on – but not yet removing – the covers. The umpires are out there too, keeping an eye.

The rain has arrived at “t Loopveld too, but too late for Kyle Klein, who goes for a creditable 36 courtesy an athletic rolling catch from Kuhn at mid-off off the bowling of Arya just an over before the weather halts proceedings. Could be in for a long wait here.

The rain really can’t come quick enough for Salland, Turmaine again and it’s a first-baller for Bartholomew too. Not a great first day for Salland’s new overseas. Van der Molen in. Rain still holding off for now. Scratch that, it’s here.

Turmaine has another, putting Barathi out of his misery. Back to one that floats on and dead in front, gone for 4 off 25. Drinks as the first drops of rain fall, but they stay out for now, to Ganesan’s cost as he’s bowled by Dutt for 46 off 96 on the first ball after drinks.

They’re still on at ‘t Loopveld, and Pote goes for 60, caught off Reddy by Hobson tracking round from mid-off. Adendorff in with Klein now, clouds gathering in Amsterdam too though.

At Bermweg too the weather has put the game on hold, Bukhari and Clark’s partnership has brought some respectability to the score, but Excelsior look in the better position.

Crowley’s not planning to hang around, slashing at Shariz and edging him just over the head of slip and down to the boundary. That brings up the hundred. Then Crowley’s put down at straight mid-on, trying to loft Shariz back over his head. Boissevain on now from the Paddock End. But the rain has come in at Westvliet, and the fielders are running for the covers…

A standstill at the inaptly-named Zomercomplex, for rain one assumes. VOC look on course for a serious score if they can get back on, O’Dowd 9 short of a century and Berry on 59 off 45. With just one wickiet lost DLS will be very hard on Punjab if they lose overs, this all assuming the rain relents of course.

Kooistra rather streakily off the mark with an outside edge past slip off Kamal. He’s getting good movement off the seam, away from the left-hander, but the dismissal when it comes, is odd, and rather tame: Vandiar tries to deal with a fullish delivery on his pad, and succeeds only in spooning it up to Musa Ahmad at midwicket. Debutant Daniel Cowley in at eight as HCC crumble. Vandiar’s 47 from 51 was their one substantial innings.

Turmaine breaks the partnership, trapping Lubbers LBW for a belaboured 25 off 63. Naqash in to join Ganesan, who has grafted his way into the thirties. He doesn’t last long though as Vikram Singh takes the bail off off stump seven balls later. Elam Barathi in at five, and blocks out the over. VRA well in control here.

Another for Hans meanwhile, Mason gone for 2, Kyle Klein in with Pote now, the latter closing in on a half century.

Breakthrough for Shariz, as Floyd pushes forward and the leggie accepts the return catch. HCC struggling now, as Joost Kooistra comes to the crease..

Bit more intent from Ganesan and Lubbers after drinks, Some aggressive running sees them take three off the first ball of Leon Turmaine’s first over, but 20 overs gone now and still not a single boundary. The outfield admittedly not helping much, very very slow today. Vikram Singh on at the Mulders end now

Floyd gets off the mark with a couple, then pulls Klein through midwicket for four. Vandiar’s blow to pull Kamal wide of mid-on is just plain brutal, and he moves to 41*. Shariz Ahmad into the attack from the Pavilion End, and Floyd’s a bit lucky when an inside edge runs down to fine leg for two.

Fifty partenrship between O’Dowd and Berry at the Zomercomplex meanwhile, and it’s come at a rapid pace. Berry’s raced to 44 off just 30 deliveries, O’Dowd on 68 off 66. .

Drinks do it again! Overdijk takes guard afresh, and then drives Klein’s first ball after the break head-high to Boissevain at shortish, straightish extra cover. Voorburg celebrate for real this time. Clayton Floyd the new man..

Meanwhile at Bermweg Will CLarke seems to be taking to Dutch conditions better than most of the new arrivals, he’s struck a brisk 23 off 26 balls to take the hosts to 64-3 at drinks. Bukhari still out there with him on a comparatively restrained 18*, as Exclesior turn to spin – Gijs Kroesen and Lorenzo Ingram in tandem.

Drinks here at the Bos meanwhile, has been a dogged rebuilding effort from Lubbers and Ganesan, Dutt and Visser have gone for just 13 runs between them in the last eight overs. Outfield is slow though and the pitch is doing a bit under the gathering clouds.

A BIG shout for caught behind against Overdijk off the last ball of Klein’s fourth, but the batter stands his ground and umpire Hilhorst isn’t interested. The celebration, though enthusiastic, proves premature. Sajjad Kamal into the attack from the Paddock End, and Vandiar greets him by driving his first, a tad overpitched, back straight for four. Seven off it in all. And with that, they take a drink, with HCC gradually rebuilding.

Mahesh Hans’ first spell for ACC and he strikes in his second over, Ahmed down the track and holing out to Wegener in the deep. Barresi in after drinks, and Barresi out, cutting to backward point. Mason join Pote.

Vandiar takes two boundaries off Klein, the first driven back straight, just to the off side, the second turned between midwicket and mid-on. He’s starting to look ominous again. Nieuwoudt, though, looks better from the Paddock End – just a single off his sixth over. Key partnership for the Lions, this. Overdijk circumspect, Vandiar driving Klein through the covers for another four, then another punched straight. And I should shut up; Nieuwoudt’s switched his direction-finder off again, adding two more wides to the tally. The rest of the over’s tidy enough, though.

Saqib Zulfiqar into the attack for Punjab and finds the breakthorugh with his second delivery, Jain LBW for 23. O’Dowd’s still there though and has brought up the first half-century of the season. Lane Berry joins him in the middle.

Ahmed and Pote have done a fine job rebuilding at ‘t Loopveld, fifty up for HBS, slow going though. Arya and Hobson with the ball for ACC now.

A wicket maiden for Klein, Gorlee treating the rest of the over with respect. Nieuwoudt switches to the Paddock End, and Gorlee’s gone without scoring, coming forward rather tentatively, missing, and bowled! Hidde Overdijk comes to the crease, with the champions now in a spot of bother.

Another down at Bermweg meanwhile, and Michael Hart has his first Topklasse wicket, Ferguson caught Heggelman for 3. Clark in with Bukhari now.

Kingma’s bowling round the wicket to the left-handed Vandiar, who faces ten deliveries before turning him to leg to get off the mark. Both batters dealing in singles, until Vandiar cuts Kingma powerfully for four behind square. The response is a full delivery, which is again dug out. Another overstep as the bowler throws in some extra effort, and the free hit is despatched ruthlessly over long on for six. First change, as Klein comes into the attack from the Pavilion End, and it immediately produces a result, as Staal cuts at a lifting delivery, doesn’t get hold of it, and Nieuwoudt moves to his right at deep backward point to take the catch. Staal goes for 13, and Gorlee is in at four..

Fifty up for VOC, O’Dowd brings up the half-century partnership with a four off Shafiq on the last ball of the 8th over.

Ganesan and Victor Lubbers looking to rebuild for Salland here, Lubbers has work to do if he wants to justify his decision to bat first on the first day of the season. Still Abid and van Luin for VRA.

Nieuwoudt’s direction-finder still on the blink, but when he bowls a straight one Staal hammers him back straight for four. Three wides in that second Nieuwoudt over, and Boissevain hintingly starts limbering up. A Kingma yorker nearly gets through Vandiar, but he digs it out. A wide and a no ball the only additions to the score. Staal then pulls Nieuwoudt heftily to the midwicket boundary.

Early wickets at Berweg too, Niels Etman strikes twice to remove Mahmoon Latif and Garnett Tarr. Bukhari in with Ferguson now.

Belated news from the Zomercomplex, where Punjab have invited VOC to bat first. Arnav Jain opening with Max O’Dowd. Shoaib Minhas returns to Punjab colours today, and Aaliyan Mahmood makes his debut, but no sign of Khurram Shahzad in today’s line-up. Full complement of Zulfiqars though.

Nieuwoudt opens with a wide, and then Alphonse pushes him into the covers confidently for a single. And a drive by Staal through extra gets him a couple. First boundary of the morning (and season) for Alphonse, driving Kingma square. But three balls later he feels for one outside off stump, and Levitt at second slip goes to his right to take the waist-high catch. Vandiar in at three.

Huge early wicket at ‘t Loopveld as Walbrugh is pinned LBW by Reddy in the first over. Pote and Ali Ahmad in the middle now, Kumar shares the new ball.

Ashir Abid takes the new ball for the hosts and strikes with his third delivery, nicking off Piyaranga nand Scully making no mistake. Next ball and Raxworthy clean bowled. “Good toss to lose” indeed. Van Luin from the Ciy End.

Kingma opens from the Paddock End, bowling to Alphonse. Good line outside the off stump, Alphonse not tempted. When the bowler gets too straight with his fourth, a push into the on side yields the first run. Tonny Staal plays out the over, by not playing the final two. Karl Nieuwoudt from the Pavilion End..

Salland have won the toss and elected to bat here, to the surprise of several onlookers. Starting almost on time, three minutes past as the players take the field.

ACC win the toss and invite HBS to bat first at ‘t Loopveld. Heino Kuhn’s return the big story at ACC of course. Thomas Hobson also back for another season and a first appearance for Dosti refugees Rahil Ahmed and Mahesh Hans. Meanwhile debuts for Swapnil Pote, new overseas Nic Adendorff, and the 14 year-old Elmar Boendenmaker in this new-look HBS side.

At Westvliet, new Voorburg captain Sybrand Engelbrecht has won the toss and asked HCC to bat. For HCC, Ratha Alphonse comes in as keeper, while Daniel Crowley (brother of) will make his debut. And Joost van Kessel returns to his old club, after a spell at Voorburg. Not to mention, of course, Jonathan Vandiar. The teams: Voorburg: Musa Ahmad, Shariz Ahmad, Philippe Boissevain, Noah Kroes+, Sybrand Engelbrecht*, Sajjad Kamal, Vivian Kingma, Ryan Klein, Nirav Kulkarni, Michael Levitt, Karl Nieuwoudt. HCC: Ratha Alphonse+, Daniel Crowley, Clayton Floyd, Boris Gorlee*, Joost van Kessel, Joost Kooistra, Hidde Overdijk, Jan-Wieger Overdijk, Tonny Staal, Jonathan Vandiar, Henrico Venter.

Big news from Bermweg is that both Mudassar Bukhari and Ahsan Malik are lining up for Sparta, alongside the returning Garnett Tarr and new arrivals Will Clark and Sam Ferguson as well as Joost Kroesen who has come over from today’s opposition. They’ll be batting first at Excelsior’s invitation. Few surprises in the Schiedammer’s selection, two remaining Kroesens, two Etmans, two van Troosts, Ingram and new overseas Michael Hart, Baker, Butt Verhagen and Heggel man round out the XI.

Bit of a concern about a damp patch on the pitch here we hear from the umpires, toss delayed by 15 minutes, but they’re hoping we’ll be able to start on time regardless. Salland have arrived in strength, full German contingent and reinforcements from further afield in Kiwis Fraser Bartholomew and Finn Raxworthy. Newcomer Tyler van Luin and Teja Nidamanuru on VRA debut, and Leon Turmaine begins his captaincy career. His predecessor is confident that he’s left a stong side behind him though; “VRA to win the League” predicts Peter Borren from across the seas “yes you can quote me”.