Topklasse Live | As it Happened | Round 9

…and van der Meulen rewards his captain with the wicket of Hake first ball. Last man Abhinay gets off strike first ball but the requisite boundaries don’t come. The hosts hold their nerve and VOC win by 9 runs.

A boundary off the penultimate ball of the penultimate over brings the equation down to 15 needed off the last over, and with both Jains and Harhangi bowled out TdK throws the ball to van der Meulen…

VRA continue to stumble toward an increasingly distant-looking finish line. Ruffel and Zaidi are caught off Aaditt Jain, 23 now needed off the last 12 balls, Abid and Hake in the middle.

Tom de leede removes Roy second ball of the 24th, leading edge caught in the covers, but Ingram puts him out of the ground over long on two balls later. With just two needed off the final over Kaplan produces a string of dots to lvan Harten to build the tension, but van Harten somehow gets off strike with a bunt to short midwicket, and Ingram dives home. One ball to face with the scores level, cut behind point for four as Kampong win by 3 wickets

Meanwhile VRA sink deeper into the mire. Thakur and now Turmaine gone and 32 off 24 deliveries the equation facing Zaidi and new man Peter Ruffel.

And all over, Doyle-Calle finishes things off with a fine looking leg glance off Scheepers for four to finish on 115* off 86 as Hermes win by 7 wickets.

Ingram and Roy still, and brought it down to 14 required from the final two overs. Tom de Leede to bowl the penultimate over…

And a century it is for DDC, who brings it up clipping Malik elegantly off his toes for four behind square. 12 need off 4 overs now, all but over.

And the tiny bit of scoreboard pressure continues to tell at Hazelaarweg, Peiris now run out for 29. Zaidi and Thakur now for VRA, 53 needed off 7 overs…

Ingram and Roy now with a brisk partnership to put Kampong back in control of the chase. Run a ball needed from the last five.

Doyle-Calle’s lost another partner, Ahmadi producing a searing yorker into Jamil’s toes to bring the finger, Jamil waves his bat demonstratively but quickly thinks better of protesting. Elebaas in with DDC now and happy to feed him the strike, and quite right too as the latter laces another drive to the rope through cover point. He’s just one shot away from another century now. Malik returns again.

Naqvi falls for 48 trying to finish things off in style, looking for six off de Beer over long on but more elevation than distance. Brett Hampton to the middle and shows how it’s done, first ball short outside off picked up over the leg side for a walk-off home run. Excelsior win by 7 wickets.

Fifty up for VRA at the cost of the captain’s wicket, Smal bowled Harhangi for 19. Zaidi in.

And as I type Nashier drags it back to evens, Jacod looking to go high and straight but not clearing the man in the deep. Roy in.

Ingram and Jacod have swung things back in Kampong’s favour at Westvliet, having put on 40 runs for the fourth wicket at a brisk pace. Kaplan and Nashier for the hosts now.

Naqvi and Verhagen have put the game practically to bed now, the former looking especially fluent on 41* off 32. Verhagen ups his own tempo lofting de Mey down the ground for a straight six, but gets a bit carried away and is stumped for 30 four balls later. Stan van Troost in at four.

Smal clears the rope off van Wingerden in the 11th, but it’s been slow going otherwise. Asking rate has crept up to a run a ball now having started at well under fives. Harhangi has taken over from Jain and given up just five in his first two overs.

Fifty for Doyle-Calle, meanwhile, who again looks to be batting on a different wicket to every one else at Harga. He’s on 61 off 44 now and hard to see a way back for Sparta if they let him bat much longer. Malik returns.

Kampong in trouble now as van Vliet, having switched to the paddock end, has Bangs caught out at midwicket for 17. Jacod joins Ingram.

Botha seems to be struggling with his run up? Twice no-balled in the 7th presumably for overstepping. Verhagen misses out on the first free hit, but Naqvi slams the second over long on for six. Hosts up with the undemanding required rate for now.

Malik has a second, van den Berg shaping to slog, overbalancing as he seems to change his mind, clean bowled for 23. Ingram in at 4.

VRA lose another as Cassidy is pinned in front by Arnav Jain for 2. Stand-in skipper Johan Smal to the crease, and the Fluffers look to be making something of a mountain out of this molehill chase.

Baker, having twice been driven through point for four off the back foot by DDC, gets a consolation wicket two balls later holding a looping return catch off Statham’s leading edge. Not the wicket they need in fairness, but they all count. Mussayab Jamil joins Doyle-Calle in the middle.

Pressure tells as Scully is cleaned up by Aaditt Jain for an 18-ball 2. Cassidy joins Peiris.

Botha has Rahaley caught driving uppishly to extra, bringing Antum Naqvi to the middle. Hosts could use a score from the Belgian-Australian-Zimbabwean today, especially in the absence of van Tonder…

First down at Westvliet as the veteran Usman Malik castles the dangerous Berry. Bangs at three.

Fifty up for Hermes, with DDC keeping the scoreboard ticking over even as Statham struggles to find scoring options at the other end. They’re on 33* and 7* respectively off a similar number of balls. Scheepers replaces Snoep.

And an extremely slow start to the chase at Hazelaarweg, where Peiris and Scully are opening the batting for VRA in very circumspect fashion. The brother Jain share the new ball and give up just a single run off the first three. Two maidens for Jain the elder thus far.

Slower start to the chase at Thurlede, Rahaley opening with Verhagen as the latter is spilled behind the stumps off Rossouw in the second over. Botha from the other end.

Back on at Westvliet, where van den Berg lifts van Vliet over cover first ball for four, then a few balls later goes hard over cover point for six. Plenty of #intent on display from Kampong again here. He’s opening with Berry, de Leede shares the new ball.

Doyle-Calle and Statham have made steady progress at Harga meanwhile. Five and a bit per over needed and five and bit per over is what they doing. DDC very much driving the scoring for now, Ahmadi replaces Malik.

meanwhile at Hazelaarweg the run-out of Jain has precipitated a rapid collapse, the final four wickets falling in the space of seven runs as VOC are skittled for 123.

De Leede goes for a creditable 27, holing out off Jacod. Nashier and Boissevain’s scrambled hard running at the death lifts the hosts to a decent but likely insufficient 152-7, Nashier run out on the last delivery having failed to persuade Boissevain to attempt an unlikely third run.

Ralston pegs back Scholte’s leg stump in the 23rd, Boddendijk joins de Mey for what proves to be the final over as it seems they’re playing one fewer at Thurlede than Westvliet despite starting at the same time. Boddendijk gets a low full toss from Rahaley and dumps it over the micwicket rope for six, but little else to cheer for the Crows as they finish on 115-9, de Mey falling on the final ball on the reverse.

They’re back out there at Harga meanwhile, and a bit of yes-no-maybe does for Ashley Ostling as he’s run out by a mile last ball of the first. Statham in to join DDC, and bats out a maiden to Snoep. Malik gives up just one off his next. Slow, nervous start for the hosts.

Having put together a solid but unshowy partnership with de Leede to see VCC through to the death, Klein now looks to cash in off Gopinath, sweeping hard for four and then six from consecutive balls. Ingram brings his innings to an end first ball of the next however, as he’s caught for a 25-ball 34. Carl Mumba lasts two balls before a looping leading edge is held in front of point. Udit Nashier in at seven to join de Leede, who’s now on 26*.

A third for Kroesen as Khan edges behind, HBS in danger of not batting out their 25 overs now. De Mey in.

Oberholzer and Jain’s obduracy was just beginning to pay dividends when Turmaine breaks the partnership at 45, Oberholzer caught for a 49-ball 42, van Wingerden in to join Jain, who’s in the 20s.

Double strike from Kroesen in the 17th does for both set bats, Beer caught behind by a juggling Verhagen and then Del Bianco rather more authoratatively stumped three balls later. Scholte and Khan the new bats.

Boorer falls in the final over reverse-sweeping Braat onto his stumps, Baker and Ambrose can only manage a single and a bye from the last three balls. Sparta have something to bowl at, but you’d say Hermes will be the happier side at the half-way stage.

Melville quickly follows de Lange back to the pavilion, leading edge off Gopinath held low at extra cover. Ryan Klein now, in his first match back from injury, joins de Leede in the middle.

Naqvi and Joost Kroesen really putting the screws on HBS meanwhile, no boundaries since the ninth and run rate slowed to a crawl.

Meanwhile Jabarkhail’s picked up the crucial wicket of Scheepers, top edging a slog-sweep and falling for 53 as he looked to kick off some late acceleration. Manminder Singh provides a little of the latter as he top-edges Elenbaas all the way for six behind square in the next, but is caught behind two balls later. Baker in with Boorer for the death.

Some obstinate resistance now from Oberholzer and Jain, the former on to 35*, the latter on 8*. VOC through half their overs now though and a long way from a score.

De Lange goes for a 44-ball 40 chipping Jacod to midiwcket, Tom de Leede at four, Gopinath on from the other end.

Another for Edward in his next as Botha pulls a shorter ball into the hands of Etman at deep backward square. Then Naqvi gets the big wicket next over, Walbrugh looking for a dinky paddle to help one away down leg but only finds Verhagen’s gloves. Del Bianco and Beer in.

Jabarkhail’s patience rewarded as a frustrated Klesse clears the front leg only to hole out at deep midwicket for a tortured 39 off 61. And Kothari gets his reward in the next as Ahmadi dances down the wicket to deposit the ball into the hands of long on. Boorer in with Scheepers now, the latter having passed fifty. Acceleration desperately needed now with just five to come.

Fifty up for Voorburg but Melville still struggling to score, a boundary off Bangs in the tenth only his second of the innings. Ingram on at the other end.

Procession continues at Hazelaarweg, Van der Meulen and Tim de Kok fall in swift succession to Hake and Turmaine respectively. Arnav Jain joins Oberholzen.

Boendermaker goes chasing a very wide one from Edward and nicking behind. Botha joins Walbrugh.

Kothari and Jabarkhail keeping things tight at the Loopuyt too, no boundaries since that four from Scheepers in the 21st. Braat back now.

Similar story at Thurlede where Walbrugh is driving the scoring for HBS, but the Crows still barely over sixes in a shortened game. Naqvi into the attack.

De Lange looking fluent at Westvliet, lovely wristy flick for a square four off Nana is followed up two balls later with a textbook drive through the covers for four more. Back foot on drive off Roy finds the rope next over, but runs still not coming as quick as Voorburg might like. Kumar into the attack now.

VOC still anchor tenants in Struggle City it seems, Singh caught behind off Abid for 8. Van der Meulen in.

Things have been comparatively quite at the Loopuyt meanwhile, where Kleese and Scheepers have been consolidating in the face of Kothari and Jabarkhail. First signs of acceleration again now as Scheepers makes room to pull the legspinner over midwicket for four. Hundred up for Sparta, almost two thirds of the innings gone.

Vig wicket early at Westvliet as Kaplan edges Nana behind on the cut in the second over. Melville at three to join Cedric de Lange. Roy brings himself on at the other end.

Both openers out early at Hazelaarweg as Recordon is cvaught off Ruffel for 4. Monty Singh to the middle.

25 each way at Thurlede too, where Excelsior won the toss and inserted HBS. Mason and Boendermaker in the middle for the Crows, Ralston to open the bowling. And he strikes first ball! Mason lazily swishes at a wide one and slaps straight to backward point. Walbrugh at three opens the scoring four balls later pulling hard behind square for four.

And we’re about to get started a Westvliet too, where the hosts have won the toss and elected to bat, we’re told. 25 overs each way.

Nicholas Woermeijer’s replaced Kothari, and an otherwise tidy couple of overs from him is spoiled by a leg side wide that evades Statham for five, Sparta haven’t managed to find the rope off him themselves yet though. Jabarkhail replaces Braat at the other end and very tidy from him to start, just a single off his first.

And game on at Hazelaarweg too, where VRA have won the toss and invited the hosts to bat. Jannet and Recordon doing so at the minute, Peter Ruffel and Ashir Abid share the new ball. And the latter comes in for some tap early as Jannet takes him for back-to back boundaries, but has his immediate revenge as Jannet holes out next ball. Oberholzer in. Monty Singh also back from Danish duties and into the VOC side today. VRA missing five to international call-ups at the minute, four with the Dutch of course and Patrick Gouge away with Jersey for the inter-insulars this weekend. Hake, Peiris, Thakur, Abhinay and Zaidi all together in the firsts today for the first time.

Rain the only winner south of the river today. Match Abandoned.

Expensive start for Kothari as Klesse takes him for 7 (not entirely risk free) runs in his first, and Ferguson picks up a couple of singles too. Next over Ferguson goes hard after Braat, coming down and slashing for two through cover, then carving a short ball up over backward point for six. Fun’s over for him next ball though, cramped for room and a thin inside edge is pouched by Statham behind the stumps. Scheepers in at five.

Sunshine at Thurlede now too, and some very gentle warming up seems to be happening.

Just the four overs from Elenbaas his first spell back, Braat takes over. Tidy from him too, and not for the first time Ferguson inside edges one dangerously close to the stumps. And a double change as the somewhat wayward Numair is replaced by southpaw spinner Sahil Kothari.

Covers all the way off at Westvliet meanwhile, talk is a 16:00 start and 20 overs each way.

Streaky from Klesse and Ferguson so far, plenty of shots in the air not going to hand, Ferguson picks up four edging Numair between stood-up keeper and slip, then a wide down leg gifts them three more to the total.

Still some water to be drained out there, but warm-ups are happening. Cricket potentially imminent.

Lots of sawdust being sprinkled in out in the middle, discussions ongoing.

Bit of width from Elenbaas in his next over, sits up around sixth stump and Malik produces the first boundary cutting through point for four. Elenbaas bisects him next ball and is convinced he has him caught behind, though the umpire is not. No doubt two balls later though, edged to slip and gone. Klesse at four, Numair from the other end.

Aiming for a toss in about 15 minutes’ time at Hazelaarweg, for a 15.45 start.

Pump still pumping at Westvliet, and no more rain as yet, though it has gotten a bit darker again.

And at long last we have some action, and indeed plenty of it at the Loopuyt Oval. Steenbergen and Ferguson opening for the visitors, and Olivier Elenbaas takes the new ball for the hosts after a long lay-off from bowling. His first ball of the match (and indeed the season) if full, straight and blocked back to extra cover by Steenbergen. His second is on a length and angled into the pads, which it hits drawing a long LBW appeal. No joy there, but Steenbergen seems to have lost track of the ball and inexplicably sets off for a run, Braat is alert at first slip and a direct hit sees Steenbergen well short as he scrambles back. Malik at three and blocks out the over, maiden for Elenbaas, wicket-maiden for the hosts collectively, ugly start for the Spartans.

Sun’s out at the Zomercomplex too, but the mood there is less optimistic. Damp patch on the pitch the primary cause of concern we gather.

Covers off at Thurlede too, inspection in progress looks like.

We have a provisional green light at the Loopuyt. Should be underway in about ten minutes time, 33 overs aside if the weather holds. Sparta will bat first.

Covers are off at Hazelaarweg too we hear. Inspection scheduled for 14.45, though the expectation is we could be waiting a wee while yet.

A lot of water’s come down on Westvliet, but the mood remains optimistic. Sun’s out and wind blowing. Could have some cricket yet!

Optimism abounds at the Loopuyt, where a ray of sunshine has been spotted! Dry for now, inspection at 14.15.

Rain has passed for now at Westvliet, soppers are out. Lots of work still to be done though.

Early lunch at Hazelaarweg too, though chat there has become still more incautiously optimistic. Talk of the rain clearing inside the hour…

Early lunch is the plan at Punjab. Expect others will follow suit.

Latest word from Thurlede is that it’s raining.

Still raining at Westvliet, subastantial puddles developing on the covers. Groundsman Tom de Grooth’s been dutifully patrolling the square whenever it lightens up, but not much he can do for now.

A break in the rain at the optimistically named Zomercomplex we hear, but the strip’s still covered for now…

There’s qualified optimism at the Hazelaarweg as well, with wild talk of the rain being past (or at least on pause) by about 14:00. Time will tell.

It’s raining at the Loopuyt Oval (surprise, surprise), but the word is that ‘wait and see’ is the order of the day.