Topklasse Live | Round 2 | As it Happened

Another for Visser as Gijs Kroesen is bowled, bringing last man Baker to the crease. Hart continues his lone battle, now against Nidamanuru, down the pitch and lofting him over long on; there’s a delay while they go looking for the ball. But it can’t last, and Visser bowls Hart for 69 as he tries to make room to hit through the off. Visser finishes with four for 41 and Van Luin with three for 18.

And a maiden five wicket haul for Joost Kroesen who seals the win with the wicket of scholte to finish with figures of 5-32 in 8.3 as HBS are all out of their misery for 186. That was not close either.

Another for Van Luin as Kroesen, unable to get off the mark, makes to pull and holes out to Balbirnie at mid-on. The game is coming to a drawn-out, painful conclusion as Rens van Troost joins Hart. Abid returns, and Hart promptly eases his first ball over the long off boundary. Ten off it, including a no ball, but it’s academic now. Especially when Dutt returns as well and concedes just one. 119 still required, at a smidgeon below ten an over.

Another for Van Luin as Kroesen, unable to get off the mark, makes to pull and holes out to Balbirnie at mid-on. The game is coming to a drawn-out, painful conclusion as Rens van Troost joins Hart. Abid returns, and Hart promptly eases his first ball over the long off boundary. Ten off it, including a no ball, but it’s academic now. Especially when Dutt returns as well and concedes just one. 119 still required, at a smidgeon below ten an over.

Speaking of not-very-close-run things, over at Crayenhout Joost Kroesen’s cleaning up. Two more for him, two stumpings for Raza, HBS need 6 to avoid the follow-on.

And we’re done. Overdijk dances past one from Hoseinbaks, Crowley gets a big top edge sweeping Upadhyaya and in caught deep midwicketish. A very comfortable win for VOC, 149 runs the margin. That was not a close run thing.

Kroesen has a second, Adendorff caught Snoep for 34 and this game’s even doner than it was before, which was very done indeed.

HCC’s chase continues to unravel, Doram is done by Hoseinbaks going back to one he shouldn’t have, Koistra falls to Upadhyaya soon after, and now Floyd goes too, charging Hoseinbaks, swinging at air and a long way stumped. Looks like Overdijk coming out to join Crowley, but you can stick a fork in this one too.

Nidamanuru into the attack from the City End, and Etman strokes him wide of mid-on for a couple. The next one goes for a fortuitous four, Turmaine diving forward at deep mid-off to attempt a catch and the ball eluding him. Eight off is enough to keep up with the rate, but they have to do it every over, and that’s a big ask. To underline the point, Van Luin concedes just a single, and then induces Etman to nick the last ball of the over to keeper Scully. He goes for 37, bringing Luuk Kroesen in to join Hart, who’s on 32*. And they’ll have another drink..

Klein and Adendorff have put up a decent show of resistance at Craeyenhout, but Kroesen breaks the partnership, Klein caught Tarr for 39. De Mey in to join the lost cause. 200-odd needed off 17 if anyone’s counting.

Hart and Etman gradually building their stand, and Turmaine brings Van Luin back from the Chalet End. He gets Etman playing and missing repeatedly, a wide the only addition to the score. Visser back from the other end, and Hart cuts through backward point for three; back on strike he pulls meatily for four. He’s now on 31*, Etman on 28*. But 147 are needed off 20.

Another for Schoonheim, slow and short outside off and sits up to be hit, enough to tempt Alphonse into the pull which he skies to de Kok in the deep. Doram in to join Floyd.

Etman takes a liking to Turmaine, heaving him away to long on for four, then doing it again, a little straighter this time. Scarcely elegant, but effective. Visser continues what has been a really terrific spell, bending the ball past Etman’s bat, while Hart looks a lot less confident against Turmaine’s spin than against Visser. A maiden is the result. Spin at both ends now, with Balbirnie on from the City End. And we’re getting pretty close to stalemate as the scoring dries up almost completely. 174 still needed, now at over 6.5 an over and rising..

Two quick wickets for Jelte Schoonheim, Gorlee caught off a top-edged pull and Hidde Overdijk held at backward point, suddenly the task facing HCC looks challenging in the extreme. Asking rate’s up over sixes now as Floyd joins Alphonse, who’s on 34 off 73.

Not quite. Klein takes a single off Bartolomew to level the scores, Shariz needs four for his fifty but ends up taking the single off a punch through the covers to end up on 47*, VCC taking the win with six wicket and 18.2 overs to spare.

Nelson’s struck at Deventer and a fourth for Barathi as Musa Ahmed looks to have chopped on on the drive, gone for 38. Too late to matter much though, Shariz looking well set on 42* alongside Ryan Klein now, only question is are there enough runs left for him to make his half-century?

They’ve taken a drink at Thurlede, and the very first ball from Visser after it strikes Ingram on the pad. They go up, and so does the umpire’s finger. Ingram takes a long time to turn and leave, but leave he must. Hart in to join Van Troost, and he edges his second delivery past keeper Scully’s left glove to the boundary. He gets another, more authentically driven through the covers, then four more off Turmaine, on in place of Dutt. But then Visser beats Van Troost’s bat, hitting off stump, and the situation is becoming desperate..

Barresi also gone at Craeyenhout, bowled by Khalid Ahmadi for 16, but not before passing 8,000 top-flight runs. Reece Mason didn’t last long either, caught off Snoep for 5, so Kyle Klein in with Walbrugh now. Or rather he was. As I type Walbrugh falls to Snoep for 46. That’s the game you’d say.

Big wicket at Hazelaarweg as Vandiar looks to help an innocuous delivery from Jain down leg and somehow contrives to redirect it onto his stumps. Gorlee in with Alphonse now.

The brothers Ahmad continue to make unurried progress toward the total, aided by some increasingly wayward bowling from the hosts. A feeling of resignation seems to be creeping in at Deventer.

Alphonse and Vandiar continue their rather circumspect partnership, 31 in the powerplay, asking rate creeping up over 5.5, but plenty of time left in the game. Niaz into the attack for VOC, taking over from Hoornweg. Arnav Jain from the other end.

Rumours creeping in from Craeyenhout, where the HBS chase is going not-great apparently. Ducks for young Pote and van Oosterom, both falling to Ahsan Malik.

Dutt switches to the Chalet End, bowling with excellent control, while Van Luin is causing lots of problems from the other end. He does spray it about a bit, and may be finding it tough bowling to two left-handers, but there’s no doubt about his pace and movement. Dutt applies the pressure to Butt, bringing Balbirnie into a catching position at short cover. It’s Singh who gets the catch, though, diving way to his left at slip to hold on to a beauty. Excelsior in all sorts as Stan van Troost joins Ingram..

HCC have started their chase meanwhile, though they’ve lost Tonny Staal early, edging Hoornweg to slip on the drive. Vandiar in to join Alphonse.

And another for Elam Barathi, who cleans up Razzaqi for 2, he’s just keeping a tiny bit of hope alive for the hosts – VCC don’t have the depth they used to with the bat. They still have Shariz Ahmad though, who is with his brother in the middle now.

A wicket for Van Luin as Etman, on 22, fails to get hold of an attempted off drive and chips the ball to Visser, dropping back at long on to take a good if straightforward catch. That brings Lorenzo Ingram to the crease.

Minhas finishes things off in a hurry, an unbeaten 37 off 25 denying Zulfiqar the chance at a half-century. He fiinishes on 42* as Punjab waltz to a seven-wicket win.

Etman looks in very good nick, driving Abid cleanly to the point boundary. At the City End Dutt makes way for Van Luin, another tall Australian pace bowler. He takes the ball away from the right-handers, bowling at a decent pace, but the wicket comes from a misunderstanding between the batters: Heggelman cuts a wideish delivery through backward point, comes looking for a second, is sent back by Etman, and is well short as Van Luin gathers Rasool’s throw. Samir Butt in at three.

Another for Elam Barathi as Levitt is caught for 19. Razzaqi in with Musa Ahmed, Gansean from the other end for Salland. Again a decent start for the hosts with the ball but with so few runs on the board it’s unlikely to matter.

Heggelman gets going by driving Abid back straight for four, and then a rather fortuitous bottom edge by Etman off Dutt runs past the keeper for a couple. A square drive by Heggelman brings another couple. Abid and Dutt generally on the spot, and although Excelsior have made a steady start they’re going to need something special here. Etman obliges by hitting Abid back over his head for four..

Minhas seems to be in a hurry, slog-sweeping Hans for six in the 23rd as Punjab close in on victory. The hundred comes off the last ball of the over off an inside edge for four, not much luck for ACC today but then they’d need more than just a little luck from here.

Voorburg are off in pursuit of 136 to win, but have lost their first wicket as Noah Croes feathers Elam Barathi behind for 14. Today’s captain Musa Ahmed joins Levitt in the middle.

Ashir Abid starts from the Chalet End, bowling to Tim Etman, who’s partnered by Heggelman today in the absence of Roel Verhagen. Off the mark with a single to third man, the only other action an optimistic shout for LBW off the final delivery. VRA open with off-spin from the City End, dispensed by Aryan Dutt..

ACC have another wicket handed to them, Riaz dabbing behind point and ball-watching as Sikander comes for the single, Riaz hesitates, and is lost. Minhas in.

VOC swinging till the end, Hoseibaks holes out straight off Hidde Overdijk, the Schoonheim swipes over one from Crowley. Upadhyaya and Hoornweg the last pair, the former takes the hosts past 250 slamming Overdijk over the long on boundary first ball of the 50th, two balls later and he chops on, and that’s lunchtime.

Zulfiqar and Riaz rebuilding for Punjab after those early blows, Hobson with ball in hand for ACC. The AMsterdammer are gonna have to keep finding wickets if they’re to have any hope of an imporbable defense here, but this pair don’t look like they’re planning on taking any chances.

De Kok uppin the pace at Hazelaarweg but loses another partner, three for Jan-Wieger Overdijk now as Niaz picks out backward point. They’ve been pricey wickets though, 3-47 in 6 his figures. And de Kok goes first all of the next holing out off Crowley for 43. Schoonheim and Hoseinbaks now for VOC as Hidde Overdijk returns.

300+ turns out to be something of an underestimate, rapid acceleration from Clark takes him past fifty and Sparta to a mammoth 330-9.

Hart is convinced he’d a first Topklasse wicket as keeper Stan van Troost (apologies for calling him Verhagen earlier) dives to his left to grab a very good take off Dutt. But the umpire’s not convinced. Dutt responds with a four, but then Hart does indeed get that wicket as Dutt holes out to Ingram. Jack Balbirnie in at seven, as Hart finishes with one for 54; he’ll bowl worse for better figures, one feels. Balbirnie is run out by Stan van Troost off Heggelman’s final delivery, who thoroughly deserves his two for 29. Then it all turns silly: Nidamanuru holes out to Gijs Kroesen off Ingram for 37, Eduard Visser is stumped first ball, and Leon Turmaine has to face a hat-trick delivery off the last of the innings. He’s gets it away for almost-a-couple, but is beaten by Heggelman’s throw as he pushes for the second. But VRA will be pretty happy with that total..

Berry finally goes for 124 off 127, edging a late cut off Overdijk to short third, Seelaar joins briefly his successor in the middle, only do go in similar fashion reaching to cut a wide one and caught behind point. De Kok on 32*, Niaz joins him for the last few overs.

They’re back on a ‘t Zomercomplex and Buys already has two in the bag, Rehmat Zufiqar sweeping straight to midwicket in the first over and Asad Zulfiqar pinned LBW in his second. Good start for ACC, but they’ll need more than that if they’re to defend 124. Sikander Zulfiqar (we think) in with Riaz now.

Van Luin lofts Ingram effortlessly back over his head for six, but there’s a lot more running involved in taking nine off Hart’s penultimate over, in four twos and a single. Heggelman restricts the scoring to singles, but he can’t prevent the 250 coming up; then, however, Van Luin gets under a lofted drive, and the ball descends into the hands of Hart at long off. He goes for a 13-ball cameo 18, and Aryan Dutt joins Nidamanuru, who’s now on 34*.

Berry brings up his century tucking Crowley to leg for a couple, VOC with seven wicket and eleven overs in hand to run up the score now, but first drinks.

From 90 without loss to 135 all-out, that’s quite a collapse by any standard. Shariz Ahmad has scythed through the tail like a hot scythe through butter. Reinder Lubbers caught off a top-edged sweep, Nasir cleaned up by a googly next ball, and Gopinath done three balls later. 6-13 from 10 exactly his figures. Kamal with a more than respectable 4-24.

Nidamanuru and Van Luin keep the scoreboard moving, and Etman gets away with a wild full toss; it’s driven square for four, but unless Nidamanuru’s wearing his waist somewhere halfway up his rib cage he’s very lucky that wasn’t called a no ball. Hart back from that end, and now Ingram to bowl his last two, but Nidamanuru and Van Luin are able to play freely, knowing there are only six overs left and plenty of wickets in hand.

Sparta still building toward a big score, though they’ve lost Kroesen and Khalid Ahmadi cheply to de Mey and Klein respectively. Clark’s still there though, in the thirties now and scoring at better than a run a ball. Balawantsingh in with him, 300+ still very much on.

150 up for VOC meanwhile, but Edwards has gone for 40 miscuing a drive off Venter and caught deep cover by Floyd. Captain to the crease, Tim de Kok joins Berry, who’s closing in on a ton.

Heggelman returns from the Chalet End, Nidamanuru working him to third man for a single. He keeps Rasool on 98 for a couple of deliveries, but then he lofts him into the covers to reach his third Topklasse century, and his second for VRA, off 122 deliveries with seven fours and four sixes. He goes next ball, though, skying the bowler to Rens van Troost at long on. Tyler van Luin joins Nidamanuru..

The collapse is on at Deventer, Sajjad Kamal and Shariz Ahmed turning the game around for VCC. Kamal has four now, adding the wicket of Victor Lubbers to his tally, Shariz has Barathi and Bartholomew LBW. A lot of dogged work up top has been undone for the hosts, even 150 looks a ways off from here.

But Etman gets his man: after another tidy Ingram over Smal heaves again at the left-armer, gets under it, and big brother Tim Etman takes the catch at deep cover. Smal’s 56 came from 64 deliveries, the stand was worth 109, and Teja Nidamanuru comes to the crease for the first time in VRA colours.

Hart back from the City End as Heggelman searches for an increasingly necessary breakthrough, and he opens by bouncing Rasool quite savagely. The extra pace is enough to cause a settled batter some problems and Rasool loses his composure a little, walking down the pitch, swinging and missing. All short and outside off, and Rasool is clearly delighted to work him to third man and get to the other end. He’s on 87* now, with Smal on 33*..

Barresi finally brings himself on and bags a big wicket in his second over, Tarr goes five short of a century, bringinh Kroesen to the crease to join Clark.

The collapse in complete at the Zomercomplex, Hobson pushed back and pinned in front by Saqib, Mohammad Shafiq into the attack for the first time to burgle a couple of tail-end wickets before Saqib wraps it up, Kumar last to go stumped and ACC all out for 124.

Hart back from the City End as Heggelman searches for an increasingly necessary breakthrough, and he opens by bouncing Rasool quite savagely. The extra pace is enough to cause a settled batter some problems and Rasool loses his composure a little, walking down the pitch, swinging and missing. All short and outside off, and Rasool is clearly delighted to work him to third man and get to the other end. He’s on 87* now, with Smal on 33*..

A sudden flurry of wickets at Deventer, first Shariz Ahmed bowls Ganesan for 39, then Piyaranga is smartly stumped by Croes off a wide down leg from Sajjad Kamal, another down leg gives him two more balls in the over and off the final delivery has Raxworthy overbalanced too, and another bit of quick work from Croes. Two stumpings in an over off a medium pacer. Don’t see that often. And as I type a third for Kamal, no need for for Croes this time as it’s straight through Naqash and into leg stump. Elam Barathi in.

Leg-spinner Kroesen isn’t afraid to give the ball some air, but neither’s Smal as he thumps him away, high over cow for six. Ingram comes down to give the youngster some moral support as they retrieve the ball. Or replace it. Runs starting to flow again now, with a well-run three for Rasool and Smal going after Baker. That brings up VRA’s 150, and takes the partnership past 60. Heggelman turns to Rens van Troost, but Rasool drives him flat and hard through wide mid-off for another six..

Hobson goes to fifty sweeping Saqib Zulfiqarfor a couple behind square, but he’s running low on partners, Mahesh Hans caught leg slip off Mahmood in the previous over and Punjab into the tail. Buys in at eight.

Berry goes to fifty clubbing Jan-Wieger Overdijk through midwicket for a second four in two balls, then collects four more driving through the covers. Left arm spin at both ends now, Floyd and Doram for HCC.

Finally a breakthrough at Craeyenhout, and it’s Kyle Klein again who breaks the stand, Ferguson caught Walbrugh for 57 off 74. Bukhari in to join Tarr, who’s looking well set in the sixties. Sparta still look on for a serious score here.

Lots of encouragement for Kroesen from Baker at mid-off as the relatively quiet spell continues. But then Rasool drives him sweetly through extra cover for four, adding a single to move on to 70*. Excelsior are plugging away on a pitch which isn’t offering them much help, although Ingram and Baker have extracted a little (slow) turn from the City End. You’d think that VRA would be unhappy not to finish with 250 here, as Luuk Kroesen succeeds his brother. Spin from both ends now..

Another down at Hazelaarweg, and it’s none other than the prodigal Netherlands international Daniel Doram who finds the breakthrough, Jain backing away and chopping on, then chopping down the stumps for good measure with a frustrated swipe of the bat. Might be in trouble with the umpires for that. Edwards in now with Berry, who’s on to 39* off 33.

Crucially, Heggelman and Ingram cut out the boundaries; just one four since the end of the powerplay. Gijs Kroesen replaces the skipper at the Chalet End, six in all coming from his first over. That brings up the hundred for VRA. Umar Baker on for Ingram in another double bowling change. When Kroesen oversteps, Rasool hoists the free hit delivery high over midwicket for his third six. That apart, Excelsior are still keeping VRA’s scoring within bounds..

Johan Smal joins Rasool, and immediately gets off the mark by clipping Ingram through point for a single. The bowler keeps Rasool on 49, and when he tries to sweep the final ball of the over it runs off the pad for a leg-bye. But then he’s able to work Heggelman through midwicket for two, and reaches a well-deserved half-century, off 54 balls. That wicket has certainly slowed things down, but VRA have a solid platform here..

ACC in trouble at the Zomercomplex, Sulaiman Tariq doing the damage. Having pinned Rahil Ahmed LBW he goes on to bag the big fish, Heino Kuhn spooning an (even) slower ball up straight and held by a Zulfiqar tracking back from mid on. Raza follows soon after drinks caught behind off Mahmood, Potdar in with Hobson now.

iyaranga and Ganesan have taken Salland to 70 without loss at drinks, Ahmad’s used six bowlers now, including sending down an over of offspin personally. Engelbrecht will be back tomorrow we’re told, along with Nieuwoudt – both just managing workload.

Big wicket early at Hazelaarweg, Daniel Crowley on a fifth stump line draws a waft from O’Dowd, two slips in but neither needed, feathered through to the keeper and he doesn’t wait for the umpire. Berry at three.

And that’s as far as it goes, as Singh makes to cut Ingram and Verhagen takes a smart catch. It’s the cue for a drink, with Rasool now on 49*. Singh’s 35 came from 54 deliveries and included four boundaries.

Hundred up for Sparta meanwhile, and it’s come at a more than brisk clip. Tarr comparatively becalmed at 21* off 36, Ferguson’s on 44* at exactly a run a ball. Five bowlers used by HBS so far, Boddendijk and Pote at the moment, but Barresi’s not been tempted to roll his own arm over yet. The hosts need something from somewhere though…

This is in danger of getting out of hand for Excelsior, as Singh hoists Hart over square leg for four. 67 without loss at the end of the initial powerplay, and Tom Heggelman comes on himself from the Chalet End to try to staunch the flow of runs. A very tidy start from him, just a single apiece off his first. Lorenzo Ingram on for Hart, as Excelsior turn to their most experienced pair of bowlers. And a maiden from Ingram as the home side start to pull things back..

Stand-in skipper Musa Ahmed has been cycling through his bowlers at Deventer, Boissevain and van Vliet operating at the minute, but Piyaranga and Ganesan are not to be dislodged. Grinding their way toward a half-century stand, Ganesan lofts van Vliet over mid-off for just the third boundary of the innings. Solid if unspectacular start for the hosts.

Etman’s definitely tending to overpitch, and Rasool responds by driving, first through the covers for four, then just behind point for a couple. Then he’s nearly undone by a yorker, just outside off. Good comeback by the bowler there! Hart looks much more dangerous, getting Singh to feel for one, shaping away outside stump. Two slips in for him, but Singh is able to drive him fluently through extra for another boundary. Generally a very good over, though, and Excelsior seem to have found another in their line of Australian pace bowlers. At the other end, Etman’s finding the going really tough, losing control of line and length and going for 20 off his fifth over, bowling a series of full tosses which Rasool despatches ruthlessly for three fours and a six. The VRA fifty comes up off 55 deliveries, and Rasool has raced to 37* off 24.

Word arrives from Hazelaarweg where HCC have won the toss and elected to bowl. 11.50 start is the plan, and Pieter Seelaar in the line-up for VOC.

Etman and Hart have settled to their work on what looks like a very good pitch for batting, but when Etman goes a little too full again Singh cracks him to the point boundary. When Hart drops one a little short outside off Singh cracks him uppishly square, but it eludes the fielder and they again get two. Short again, and hoicked away by Singh – no, that’s not entirely fair, despatched – wide of mid-on for four. Anything a little loose is likely to disappear today.

Ali Raza’s got Sparta off to a blistering start, but is now caught off Klein for a 16-ball 34. Garnett Tarr in at thrthree to join Ferguson.

Tall and slim, Hart has a leisurely run-up but generates a fair pace, moving the ball away from the left-hander. Good carry through to Roel Verhagen behind the stumps. Singh feels for the fourth delivery, then cracks the lifting fifth in front of point for a brace. Give him width, and he’ll gratefully accept. The last ball is fuller and straighter, and there’s a half-hearted shout for leg-before. Going down, though. Rasool, too, isn’t afraid to play shots, again driving Etman through mid-on for a couple, then swinging wildly outside off and missing. The last ball’s in the slot, and disappears back over the bowler’s head, hitting the sightscreen with a satisfying thunk.

Still waiting for things to dry up at Hazelaarweg we hear, though the sun’s out so shouldn’t take long. 11.30 inspection.

Niels Etman opens from the Chalet End, bowling to Shirase Rasool, who immediately clips him in front of square leg for a single. The rest of the over’s on the spot, and watchfully defended by Vikram Singh until he edges one down to deep third man to get off the mark as well. The last ball’s a little overpitched, and driven by Rasool to long on for a couple. Michael Hart to bowl from the City End.

At het Zomercomplex Punjab have won the toss and elected to bowl, and it’s worked out well for them, Hussain has Wegener nicking to slip in the second over. Hobson at three to join Rahil Ahmed.

Meanwhile at Craeyenhout Sparta have won the toss and elected to have a bat.

We can tell you that VRA are unchanged from last week’s side against Salland, but we don’t yet know who from the 13-man Excelsior squad will be sitting this one out. Five minutes to start of play, and Thurlede looks a picture.

Word comes in from Deventer where Voorburg have won the toss and invited the hosts to bat. No vd Molen for Salland today, Nasir comes in. A more surprising ommission in the VCC line-up with ne captain Sybrand Engelbrecht not on the team sheet. Will try to ferret out the story there…