Topklasse Live | As it Happened | Round 8

And it’s all over. Numair stumped off de Lange trying to sweep a full toss, and Voorburg win by 107 runs. That, like every game this round, was not close.

Ralph Elenbaas isn’t going to dies wondering. Takes a knee to Nashier and sweeps hard over midwicket for six, but holes out next ball trying to repeat the trick. The inexplicably-not-picked-for-Belgium Hikmatullah Jabarkhail last man.

Elenbaas and Kothari are enjoying themselves at least, the latter comes down to de Lange to pump a big six over cow, the former does the same to Nashier next ball. De Lange breaks the partnership in the next though as Kothari drives hard and high to long off and goes for 44. Numair the new man.

So we’re left with Westvliet as the day’s last going concern. Kothari still in there with Elenbaas for company, making Voorburg wait. He’s on 31* off 40-odd, Levitt and Nashier searching for the breakthrough.

Bangs into the attack, and one wonders why he hasn’t bowled before. Top of off to end Ruffel’s defiant innings at 31 off 29, then three balls later pegs back Fletcher’s middle. Constant’s done his hammy so no net in the middle for him. Fair to say it would have taken quite a knock to make a difference as Kampong win by 112 runs

Snoep’s staying power is moot as Malik edges Zulfiqar behind on the cut next ball, last man to fall for a comparatively creditable 45 as Punjab win by 173 runs

And Sparta likewise cross the three-figure threshold, though their situation is worse still, Ferguson the second having fallen to Haider and now Max Hoornweg (for it is he) pinned in front by Zulfiqar. Snoep last man and best hope is to hang around with Malik long enough for him to get his fifty really.

Hundred up for Hermes too, in similarly hopeless circumstances. Kingma’s nicked off Elenbaas in the interim, but Kothari and Braat are putting together an obdurate little partnership..

Another for Roy who’s setting himself basket fields now. Turmaine caught third or fourth slip there I think. Maybe Gully. One of the six behind the bat in catching positions anyway. Ruffel in with Zaidi now and the pair drag the hosts to three figures. Result beyond doubt at this point though.

Over at Craeyenhout the only real question has been whether there was space for Wlabrugh to get his hundred, but the 15 runs Botha has accumulated will deny him. Longish wait with the scores level before Botha gets a lowish full toss from vd Meulen and slams it over leg for a one-bounce four. He finishes on 19*, Walbrugh 92* off 102 as HBS win by 7 wickets

Ahsan Malik looking every inch a number three as the tail collapses around him, Singh caught slip off Saqib Zulfiqar somehow, not sure whether its off his foot or something but it looped up simply enough for Vandiar, then Baker dismissed in more orthodox fashion nicking off to Haider. Tim Ferguson in with Malik now, who’s on 40*.

VRA on the slide too, Shariz on the pull to Roy, through to the keeper and a prolonged appeal eventually brings the finger up, to Shariz’ consternation. Next over Roy unambiguously nicks off Cassidy. Turmaine and Zaidi the two new men and 240 looking impossibly distant.

Sparta slouching toward another defeat meanwhile, Boorer looked to be trying to hit Mahmood out of the attack – missed reverse slog sweep, four inside out over cover, big six over cow, then caught off a rank full toss. So it goes. Singh in with Malik now..

Walbrugh and Barresi have pretty much put this game to bed meanwhile, fifties apiece and a century stand. It comes to an end now though, as Barresi reverse sweeps Jannett straight to the man and goes for 59. Botha joins Walbrugh, who’s deep into the sixties.

Hermes imploding meanwhile, Zulfiqar run out charging for a non-single, Elenbaas uninterested, well short trying to get back, and now Jamil castled by Charumbira. Captain to the crease, Braat in with his side in a state.

All over at de Diepput, White and Wolfe close things out, the latter pulling Rahaley round the corner for four then punching through cover for the win. White ends 40*, Wolfe 6* from 3 balls as HCC win by 7 wickets

Double breakthrough at the Bos, first Singh lifts Nana high and straight into the hands of a backtracking Edwards, then Kumar produces a pearl of an inswinger to rip through Smal. Nidamanuru in with Cassidy now, and consolidation to be done. Oh wait, so much for that. String of dots and Nidamanuru’s dancing down the track to Gopinath, holes out to long off. Ahmad in.

Another down at Bermweg, Klesse goes back to one he shouldn’t have from Shahzad. Scheepers in. Scheepers out. Pulls Tariq into the hands of the man at square. Boorer in.

Naqvi on and finds a belated breaktrhough, Gorlee top-edging a sweep and held Blankenstijn in the deep on the leg side. Probably too late to matter though, Wolfe in.

De Leede strikes again, Statham edging to slip. Elenbaas in and Hermes chase struggling to even start.

Steenbergen the next to persish to misdirected aggression aimed at Tariq, pulls him squares into the hands of a fielder. Klesse in early.

Hermes lose another, Dutt aims an expansive drive at a fullish ball from Kingma and edges to slip. Statham joins Zulfiqar.

Second innings is finally underway here at the Bos, Singh and Cassidy opening for the hosts, Jacod and Nana with the new ball for Kampong. Quiet start, single apiece off the first two overs.

Back on and breakthrough at Bermweg too, as Ferguson looks to launch Tariq over the leg side but fails to clear Riaz in the deep. Malik at three again to join Steenbergen.

Harhangi on first change and a rough welcome to the attack as he’s driven straight for four by Barresi, then square for four by Wlabrugh, then through the cover by Walbrugh again. 14 off it. Still Arnav Jain at the other end.

Back on at Westvliet, and an early wicket there too as Tom de Leede spears one through Ostling’s defences and into the woodwork. Big wicket that, especially with Doyle absent. Asad Zulfiqar at three to join Dutt, Kingma from the other end.

HCC have lost another, Floyd top-edging a pull off Ralston that comes down easy as you like for the keeper. White in with Gorlee now, and the hosts half-way home already.

And back with a bang at Craeyenhout, two early wickets for Arnav Jain who removes Mason with the fifth ball of the innings, sending up a steepling top-edge on the sweep and caught de Widt, and then has Visée in his next over cutting hard to backward point. Walbrugh and Barresi in early. Aaditt Jain shares the new ball with his brother.

Kirtan Nana is caught by Singh off Ruffell in the hunt for runs, and then Akhil Gopinath is bowled first ball to finish the innings. Five for 44 for Ruffell, four for 47 for Fletcher. Is that enough? It’s not been easy batting in the Bos today.

Bangs falls to Fletcher, caught by Shariz off Fletcher for 20, and then Ruffell picks up both Jacod and Roy, both caught behind by Cassidy. Meanwhile Edwards reached his century, off 129 deliveries, but almost immediately he’s caught by Singh off Fletcher.

Floyd still on the attack after that early setback: he’s raced to 27*, with four fours and a six, with Gorlee content to watch from the other end.

Tehzeeb clips Scheepers off his toes, down the throat of Ferguson at midwicket. Suleiman Tariq the last man, takes a single to finish it off.

A late-innings flurry of wickets at the Bermweg: Shinwari swings Malik backward of square and is caught by Kyle Klesse, then Sikander holes out to Sam Ferguson at long on off Baker. A misunderstanding with Khurram Shahzad sees Aaliyan Mahmood run out with scoring, and that brings Tehzeeb Haider to the crease.

Braat adds Van Vliet to his tally, leg-before for 3, but Nashier and Patient Charumbira see it through to the end, finishing on 37* and 19* respectively. That will be a very big ask for a Doyle-less Hermes.

They’re back at De Diepput already, Floyd taking boundaries off both Ralston and Blankestijn. But then Tonny Staal fishes for one outside off stump from Blankestijn, not a lot of foot movement there, and Verhagen gratefully accepts the catch. Boris Gorlee in at three.

Ahsan Malik back to close it out from the Pavilion End, with Sikander and Shinwari still together and Punjab on course for 260 or so.

Ingram lashes out at Turmaine, doesn’t get all of it, and is caught by Johan Smal at wide long on, all right, cow, for 76. 174 the stand. Lachlan Bangs in to join Edwards, who’s on 85* now.

Braat returns to remove Mumba, a big top edge and a great running catch on the midwicket boundary by Olivier Elenbaas. He made a 31-ball 33, just what Voorburg needed, and Mees van Vliet joins Nashier with three overs left.

Scheepers finally removes Musa, sliding a full one past him as he makes to work him to leg and uprooting his leg stump. He made a fine 91, the backbone of the innings, and he’s succeeded by Shinwari.

The GOAT claims the last, Schoonheim getting under a lofted drive and caught by Elmar Boendermaker at cover. Harhangi remains on a very valuable 17*.

Back-to-back boundaries for Edwards off Turmaine, taking him to 85*. Ingram on 65*, and the stand’s worth 163. Quite a turnaround in the Bos! When will Kampong really pull the trigger, one wonders.

Aaditt Jain a second run-out, this one the work of De Mey, but Jelte Schoonheim and Roman Harhangi are frustrating the HBS attack, adding 19 so far.

Nashier and Mumba building on the work of Croes and Melville, and with Jabarkhail bowled out the Villagers look to be on for 250 or so. Kothari has one over left, Dutt two.

Punjab go past 200, Sikander Saqib greeting the return of Baker by belting him over midwicket for six. But then he chops the next one square, into the hands of Steenbergen and goes for 38. Musa on 84* now, joined by Sikander. Sorry about that confusion, not entirely my own . . .

Fifty for Ingram as well, his timing a lot sweeter now, and the stand’s up to 136. Edwards 68*, Ingram 55*, and Turmaine back from the City End.

Disaster for the Bloodhounds as Janett’s run out for 58, then De Widt’s caught by Walbrugh off Rossouw. Aaditt Jain and Siebe van Wingerden trying to dig VOC out of trouble.

Jabarkhail again the Hermes trump card: he has Tom de Leede caught behind by Asad Zulfiqar, then Melville, on 50, goes the same way. Udit Nashier and Carl Mumba, who’s fit again, now at the crease.

Musa on 74* now, Sikander on 16*, as Hoornweg continues from the Pavilion End. With Saqib and Fawad Shinwari to come, Punjab have a platform for a very challenging total.

Still not a great deal of momentum to the Kampong innings, but considering that they were 10 for three when these two came together, they’ve done a great job. Edwards now on 64*, Ingram on 43*. Ruffell replaces Fletcher from Mulder’s End.

And Overdijk finishes it, bowling Blankestijn all ends up and collecting a Michelle for himself: five for 18 from exactly ten overs. Eight wickets for 44 is a pretty remarkable fightback by HCC after Excelsior’s brilliant start.

Excelsior’s collapse from 106 for two has been near total: Etman caught by Crowley off Brown, then a fourth for Overdijk as he bowls Karson Edward for 1. Ralston’s doing his best to give the bowlers something to work with, hitting Brown over midwicket for four, but it’s going to be a big ask.

The wheels are coming off at Craeyenhout: Jain caught by Tobias Visée off Gary Barresi for 7, then De Kok caught by Boddendijk off De Mey for 2. Janett’s still there on 48*, joined now by Tom de Widt.

Which Jabarkhail duly obtains, Croes driving back hard and the bowler snaffling the catch at the second or third attempt. Croes gone for 56, Melville joined by Tom de Leede.

And Hoornweg breaks the partnership, Riaz hitting him over extra for four but then leg-before as he tries to dab him down in front of square leg. He made 55, and he and Musa added 109. Sikander Zulfiqar in to join Musa, who’s gone on to 65*.

Shariz Ahmad on from the City End, and immediately a big appeal as Ingram sweeps and misses. The old fox is not finding it easy out there, and Shariz is able to bowl him a maiden. With Edwards on 49* Fletcher returns, and the Dutch skipper is able to work him through midwicket for a couple.

The slump continues: Hampton’s bowled by Venter, and then Overdijk picks up his third, Joost Kroesen bowled for 8. Niels Etman and Jason Ralston together now, but HCC look to be in control here.

Van der Meulen, like Oberholzer, opts for aggression, hitting two fours and two sixes in a 25-ball 27, but he’s gone now, caught by Walbrugh off De Mey. Arnav Jain joins anchor Janett, who’s on 38* from 62 deliveries.

Dutt and Hikmatullah Jabarkhail operating in tandem for Hermes, but Croes goes to fifty with a sweetly-timed straight drive for four. The partnership’s also reached the half-century, and the Sky Blues are beginning to be in serious need of a wicket.

Hundred up at the Bermweg, with Manminder Singh replacing Baker and Max Hoornweg, in the side for the first time this season, on from the Pavilion End. Musa now on 47*, Riaz 40*.

Edwards and Ingram have added 66 now, as Leon Turmaine comes into the attack from Mulder’s End. A couple of singles, then Ingram uses his feet, smacking him over long off for six. Not many better players of spin in this competition than this pair.

And the fifth: no doubt about that one as Luuk Kroesen has his off stump knocked back by a very accomplished inswinger. Excelsior in danger of imploding here, and Kroesen senior succeeds his brother.

Oberholzer gone, caught by De Mey off Rossouw for 24. Jayden van der Meulen in to join Janett, who’s on 32*.

Overdijk gets the fourth: Van Troost forward and across, struck on the pad, and the umpire’s finger goes up. Van Troost pauses briefly before departing. A crucial period for Excelsior now, as Luuk Kroesen joins Hampton.

The two Melburnians are working hard together to build a decent platform. Dutt into the attack now from the Paddock End.

Another double bowling change and it gets the breakthrough: Naqvi, having reached 20, plays a rather casual drive at Venter, no movement of the feet at all, and Wolfe gleefully accepts the catch. Brett Hampton in to join Van Troost.

A drink at the Bermweg too: Baker into the attack from the Schollenbos End, but he concedes a four to Musa and a six to Riaz, Scheepers then going for two more boundaries by Musa, who’s gone to 34*, Riaz on 21*. Important partnership for Punjab, this.

Edwards and Ingram drawing on all their experience, still there as they go for a drink in the Bos. Edwards on 29* now, Ingram on a very patient 8*, and the stand’s approaching fifty.

Another burst of aggression from Oberholzer, who hits Benno Boddendijk for 4 – 6- 4. Walbrugh turns to spin, Jayden Rossouw and Julien de Mey into the attack.

Another at Westvliet: De Lange plays around a Braat delivery, and his off stump goes flying. He made 27, and Henry Melville comes in to join Croes, who’s on 19*.

One brings two at De Diepput, Rahaley caught by Henrico Venter at fine leg as he goes down on one knee to pull Brown. He goes for 53, off 32 deliveries. Stan van Troost in with Naqvi now; Excelsior without Van Tonder today.

Musa and Riaz likewise building a stand for Punjab, Juandre Scheepers on from the Pavilion End now.

Edwards and Ingram have made it through to the end of the powerplay, and Nidamanuru turns to Ashir Abid and Vikram Singh to try to break what is obviously a vital partnership for Kampong.

Kooistra goes, bowled by Botha for 10, and now Janett and Christiaan Oberholzer are rebuilding, Oberholzer getting under way with a six off Botha.

Numair gets the initial breakthrough, bowling Michael Levitt for 4, and then Braat grabs the crucial wicket of Gavin Kaplan, trapped in front after striking three boundaries. Noah Croes in to join Cedric de Lange, who’s on 23*. Honours about even at the end of the powerplay.

Sensational events of a different kind at De Diepput, where Rahaley has taken the bowling by the scruff of the neck. He’s raced to a half-century of 23 deliveries, including three towering sixes off one Floyd over, and Excelsior are going along at ten an over. Josh Brown and Teun Leijer into the attack, and it’s the latter who gets the breakthrough, Verhagen, immediately after hitting him back straight for four, unable to get over a cover drive and caught by Hidde Overdijk. He goes for 26 (off 18), Antum Naqvi the new man.

Musa survives a very confident appeal for a catch behind the stumps off Malik, but two balls later Shoaib Minhas plays a rather casual square drive, and Juandre Scheepers takes the catch. Mohsin Riaz in to join Musa.

Scott Janett and Bart Kooistra open for VOC at Craeyenhout, initially facing Lehan Botha and Kyle Klein. They’ve successfully negotiated the first half-dozen overs, Kooistra taking the lion’s share of the strike.

Sensation in the Bos, meanwhile: newly- elevated international Ben Fletcher has Max O’Dowd caught behind by Jack Cassidy off the third ball of the match. Then Peter Ruffell induces an inside edge from Daniel van den Berg and Cassidy again does the needful. Lane Berry enters, takes four off Fletcher, and is bowled. VRA rampant, Kampong on the ropes, Scott Edwards and Lorenzo Ingram together by the fifth over!

Clayton Floyd takes the first over at De Diepput, bowling from the Scoreboard End. A fortuitous edge by Sam Rahaley eludes Staal at slip and they get a couple, then a single a couple of deliveries later. Daniel Crowley bowls the second, but comes in for some tap, Rahaley twice despatching him over midwicket, the first bouncing just inside the rope, the second going a deal further.

Sebastiaan Braat joins the ranks of those taking the bowling option. He would have preferred a tighter start from Ralph Elenbaas, bowling from the Paddock End, who concedes three separate wides as well as seeing Cedric de Lange hit a boundary. Roy Numair to bowl the second.

Immediately drama at the Bermweg: starting from the Schollenbos End, Ahsan Malik bowls a wide down the leg side to Jonathan Vandiar, who then defends the next. But then he swings at the next, gets a top edge and departs, not waiting for keeper Lukas Boorer to complete the catch. Musa Ahmad again finds himself a virtual opener.

But Tim de Kok, having called correctly at Craeyenhout, has elected to have a bat.

As has Teja Nidamanuru in the Amsterdamse Bos.

Joost-Martijn Snoep, on the other hand, has decided to have a bowl.

At De Diepput, Roel Verhagen has won the toss for Excelsior and elected to bat.