Topklasse Live | Round 1 | As it Happened

And all over at Bermweg too, Kaplan (?) finishes it off with back-to-back boundaries off Baker to wrap things up with 7 and a bit overs to spare. He finishes unbeaten on 85, 30 for Croes and an emphatic victory for the visitors as Voorburg win by 7 wickets.

An anti-climactic end as Sikander looks to guide de Mey round the corner, off the front pad for what should be four leg byes but given as runs, de Mey has a case to remonstrate there in re his figures, but not the result as Punjab win by 5 wickets.

Riaz falls for a personal Nelson, 111 of 85 in the end as a helicopter slap off Boendermaker fails to clear the man in the deep. He’s put the game to bed though, Shinwari joins Sikander for the last rites.

Kaplan and Croes beginning to accelerate into the final stretch now, Croes into the twenties off about as many balls, crowding out any chance of a Kaplan century, the latter in the 70’s now but not enough left to chase.

Riaz looks intent on saving us all some time, slams Rossouw over the on side for six to bring up his hundred off just 79 balls. Zulfiqar still with him on 60 off 85, HBS already looking for positives to take from the ievitable defeat one feels.

Similar story at Craeyenhout where Riaz and Zulfiqar have likewise posted a century stand to take control of the chase. HBS have a few more runs to play with but the hosts needa rapid turnaround from here. Klein returns.

Oh me of little faith! Singh breaks the partnership with an inoccuous ball outside off that de Leede shovels into the off side into the hands of Sam Ferguson, and is caught for 57. Croes to the crease.

Fifties each for Kaplan and de Leede, and Voorburg cruising at this point. Manminder Singh into the attack, Sparta’s 7th bowler, but five of the preceding six have gone wicketless and Ahsan Malik’s only got one over left. Hardto see a way back for the Spartans.

And the rapid collapse only accelerated here, van Tonder holes out off Abhinay for a 55-ball 43, last pair Reddy and Blankenstein last another 8 balls before Ahmad castles Reddy to complete his five-fer. 5-25 his figures as VRA win by 168 runs.

Similar story at Craeyenhout where Riaz and Zulfiqar have likewise posted a century stand to take control of the chase. HBS have a few more runs to play with but the hosts needa rapid turnaround from here. Klein returns.

Kaplan and de Leede are taking the game in hand at Bermeg meanwhile, century partnership for the pair now, both bats in the late 40s, back of the chase looking thoroughly broken.

Excelsior’s chase rapidly unravelling now too, Ahmad bags two-in-two as Kroesen is caught behind and then Edward clean bowled first ball. Darsh Abhinay into the attack next over and claims his maiden Topklasse wicket with his sixth ball, Niels Etman edging to Singh at first slip. Ralston joins van Tonder, the latter’s patience seemingly at an end as he launches Ahmad for six over midwicket next ball. May as well have a hit-out at this point, game’s gone. Ralston falls to Ahmad now, cleaned up swiping wildly across the line. Reddy in with van Tonder, the latter still defiant as he pumps Ahmad over mid off for four in what looks an utterly lost cause.

All over at de Diepput, Kothari wipes out the tail as HCC fall a run short of triple figures. Big win for the sky blues as Hermes win by 92 runs.

Rahaley doesn’t last long, Shariz extracts a leading edge looks like, loops up for a simple catch for Vikram Singh at first slip. Joost Kroesen in with van Tonder now.

Kothari into the attack and strikes in his second over to remove Patel, Venter joins Wolfe now for what realistically is an NRR damage mitigation mission.

Hundred up for Punjab meawhile as Zulfiqar and Riaz rebuild, the former on 16* off 30, the latter 38* from 44. De Beer and De Mey operating for the hosts now.

Third wicket here, Ashir Abid’s first of the season though a good part of the credit also goes to Fletcher, who was across quickly from mid on to take a sliding catch behind the bowler and see the back of Stan van Troost. Sam Rahaley in to join van Tonder after Drinks.

Details are scarce at Bermweg just now, but we can tell you that Kaplan and de Leede were still together in the middle when last we heard, and had been for a while. The pair will be closing in on a fifty partnership by now you’d imagine. Ahh indeed 73-2 we hear.

The collapse continues at de Diepput, Jabarkhail into the attack and bags three in succession; Gorlee caught Dutt then Brown and Crowley find their woodwork disarranged. Patel and Wolfe now trying to stop the rot.

Punjab four down now as Rossouw has Niaz LBW JFK, playing back and across. Skipper to the middle, Sikander Zulfiqar joins Riaz.

What looked a steady opening stand between de Lange an Levitt is cut short at 30 when Malik has Levitt caught in the deep off the first ball of the ninth, then does for de Lange in similar fashion two balls later, a looping leading edge caught somewhere off to leg. Gavin Kaplan three, joined now by the Prince of Voorburg himself – Bas de Leede.

Maiden Topklasse wicket for Peter Ruffel as he pegs back the leaden-footed Verhagen’s off stump. Stan van Troost joins van Tonder

Fifty up for Punjab but they lose their third soon after, Musa Ahmad prodding outside off and edging Klein behind. Niaz joins Riaz and blocks out the over.

First down here at the Bos, Kroesen falling over one trying to flick Fletcher to leg and a lengthy LBW appeal is answered in the affirmative. Van Tonder at three.

HCC collapsing out of the gate, Numair the chief architect. Has Staal caught and bowled, then cleans up Banerjee and Ovedijk in short order for a duck and a double respectively. Brown joins Gorlee with the hosts in all sorts.

The action’s back at Bermweg too, Michael Levitt opening with Cedric de Lange for VCC, Malik and Scheepers for the hosts.

Back on here at the Bos too, Ben Fletcher shares the new ball with newcomer Peter Ruffel, Luuk Kroesen and Roel Verhagen opening for the visitors, and a cautious start so far.

Back on at Crayenhout too, and a wicket down there too. Minha caught off Botha somewhere deep behind point. Make that two down as Kyle Klein has Butt caught in the slips now. Mohsin Riaz joins Musa Ahmad.

They’re back on at de Diepput, meanwhile, Ralph Elenbaas and Roy Numair sharing the new ball, Tonny Staal and Ollie White opening the batting for the hosts. The latter driving the scoring for now, dumping Elenbaas back over his head for six first ball of the fifth. But as I type Elenbaas strikes back, out of the back of the hand and shanked to Braat at short backward point. Gorlee at three.

A half-day for Kampong and VOC today then, former Bloodhounds Max O’Dowd and Lane Berry seeing Kampong comfortably home with almost 40 overs to spare. The latter especially has been deeply unkind to the VOC bowlers, slapping Oberholzer contemptuously over backward square for six to wrap up the game, finishing unbeaten on 41* off 22 as Kampong win by 9 wickets.

Shariz and Abhinay see it through to the end, bringing up the 250 in the process.

Baker tries to slash a shorter delivery from Van Vliet over point, but he can’t get it past the hands of Henry Melville, and that brings the innings to an end.

VRA will post the highest first-innings of the day, with debutant Darsh Abhinay at the crease now with Shariz. The Bos looks full of runs, though, and Excelsior, too, have plenty of batting.

Baker and Malik produce one of those irritating little last-wicket stands which really frustrate a bowling side. Van Vliet and De Lange are plugging away, but they just can’t get that final breakthrough.

Van den Berg and O’Dowd are off at a gallop against Harhangi and Aaditt Jain, but as I write that Van den Berg is caught by Arnav Jain off Harhangi for 17, bringing Lane Berry to the crease.

Thanks to Boendermaker’s 59, somewhat unfortunately out hit wicket just before the end, HBS finish with a pretty reasonable total. Whether it’s enough against Punjab’s powerful batting on Craeyenhout’s run-rich astroturf, of course, remains to be seen.

Nidamanuru’s caught behind by Verhagen off Edward for 48, so it’s up to Shariz and Luke Scully to face the final overs. Ralston has three left, Blankestijn two, and Edward three. And on cue, Ralston traps Scully in front for 10.

Floris de Lange, on from the Schollebos End, has Manminder Singh caught at long on by Bas de Leede (for it is he!), and then the same combination does for Khalid Ahmadi as well. Ahsan Malik joins Baker.

They’re back on at Maarschalkerweerd, Harhangi starting from the University End to Damien van den Berg.

Two in Crowley’s over, Kothari bowled for 30 and then Niels Woermeijer run out for 2. Numair hits out at Overdijk, but he’s caught, and Hermes have gone from 103 without loss to 191 all out. Wickets shared, Overdijk finishing with three for 34.

Mahmood returns to remove Klein, caught by Musa at long on as he tries to hit the spinner into the trees. But he’s made a fine 58, while Boendermaker has gone to a maiden Topklasse fifty. They put on 89 for the seventh wicket.

Kothari and Numair are battling on against Crowley and Overdijk, but runs aren’t coming freely in the closing stages. Disappointing after that brilliant start, but HCC are fighting back strongly.

Gouge goes for 11, run out looking for a second to Van Tonder at mid-on and beaten when Nidamanuru, quite rightly, sends him back. Shariz Ahmad in at six, with Nidamanuru on 36*.

This stand is now worth 57 priceless runs, with Klein on 44* and Boendermaker on 33*. What do HBS need to give themselves a chance? Another 50 perhaps? Shoaib Minhas to continue.

Levitt’s trapped Boorer in front for 21, and soon afterwards Croes stumps Tim Ferguson off Nashier. New captain Manminder Singh is still there, batting now with Umar Baker. Tom de Leede back from the Pavilion End.

Crowley has Dutt caught behind by Mark Wolfe for 79, and then Overdijk gets Ralph Elenbaas, caught low at cover by Wolfe’s predecessor behind the stumps, Yash Patel. Roy Numair in to join Sahil Kothari.

Blankestijn returns to remove Smal, caught by Ralston for 64. Patrick Gouge in to join Nidamanuru, with VRA set for a big finish.

Some solid resistance from Klein and Boendermaker, bringing much-needed solidity to the lower middle order. Punjab, incidentally, are handicapped by an injury to Saqib Zulfiqar, who bowled only three deliveries before feeling a tweak in his hamstring and leaving the field.

Dream return to the Topklasse for Kampong, as Jacod bowls Harhangi and Ingram traps Upadhyaya in front to finish off VOC’s innings. Four for 24 for Jacod, three for 12 for Ingram, and the Bloodhounds will need to produce something special from here.

Boorer edges Levitt to deep third for four, but the next delivery brings disaster for Sparta as Boorer squeezes the ball in front of square, there’s a mid-pitch mix-up, and Tom de Leede’s driect hit beats Klesse back to the non-striker’s end. Manminder Singh in at seven.

Another one-two, as Ingram knocks De Kok’s off stump back, and in his next over traps Singh in front with a quicker delivery. Roman Harhangi in to join Jelte Schoonheim.

Nick Statham’s come and gone, caught by Crowley off Henrico Venter for 10. Dutt’s still there, on 78* now, but Venter bowls Sebastiaan Braat first ball, and Hermes, too, are in trouble.

Singh’s gone, stumped by Verhagen off Sam Rahaley for 46, but he’s given VRA a good platform. Skipper Teja Nidamanuru sets out to exploit this in company with Smal, who’s gone to 43*, Nidamanuru on 16*. Edward back into the attack.

De Beer doesn’t last long, caught by Shinwari, again off Musa, and young Elmar Boendermaker joins Klein as Punjab turn the screw.

Klesse and Boorer aren’t finding scoring easy against Van Vliet, now back from the Pavilion End, and Levitt, and this is a vital stand for Sparta – there isn’t a huge amount of batting to follow.

Walbrugh reaches his fifty, yet again, but Musa Ahmad’s had him caught behind by Fawad Shinwari, and HBS are also in a spot of bother as Sellin de Beer joins Kyle Klein.

VOC in deep trouble now. Jacod has bowled Arnav Jain, Akhil Gopinath has trapped Van Wingerden in front, and now Jacod has picked up a third, and his second Jain, by bowling Aaditt. Tim de Kok has been joined by Taranjit Singh, but Kampong are taking control.

A sudden turnaround at De Diepput: White catches Ostling’s outside edge as he tries to work him through midwicket, and Staal takes a low catch at slip. Four balls later he traps Asad Zulfiqar in front, and then in the next over Overdijk induces an edge from Mussayab Jamil, and Staal takes the catch at the second grab. 103 with loss becomes 104-3 in the space of 11 deliveries.

Useful stand by Singh and Smal, with Luuk Kroesen into the attack now for Excelsior. Singh on 42*, Smal on 26*, and the visitors are in sore need of a wicket.

Hundred up at the Bermweg, with Klesse and Scheepers building a useful stand. But then Nashier gets another, as Scheepers goes for a massive blow, gets under it, and is caught by Cedric de Lange in the deep. He made 16, Klesse on 24* and joined now by Lucas Boorer.

Wicket at Craeyenhout as well. Mohsin Riaz on from the Sportlaan End, and Barresi immediately pulls him to Zulfiqar (S) at midwicket. Enter Lehan Botha, and as I write this he pushes his third delivery to Samir Butt at point. One, as they say, brings two, and HBS in trouble as Kyle Klein joins Walbrugh.

Still very slow going at Maarschalkerweerd, with Lachlan Bangs and Pierre Jacod into the attack to keep turning the screw. And Jacod gets the third: Recordon trapped in front for a very patient 18. Siebe vanWingerden joins Jain.

The first half-century of the season is posted by Aryan Dutt in his new role as opener, coming from 55 deliveries with six fours and two sixes. He’s outscoring Ostling, which takes some doing. They’re on 54* and 38* respectively, and Oliver White’s into the attack.

Nashier claims his first wicket for his new club, Balwantsingh caught by Michael Levitt at mid-on for 26. Klesse’s made a solid start, in partnership now with Juandre Scheepers.

Edward gets the breakthrough, Cassidy edging him to Sam Rahaley and departing for 10. Johan Smal the new man, and he’s gone to 8*, Singh now on 29*. Drinks in the Bos as well.

Walbrugh and Barresi might well be a pair you’d consider nominating to bat for your life, and they doubled the HBS score so far. Tariq has completed another of his impeccable ten-over spells, finishing with one for 38. Walbrugh’s gone to 32*, Barresi on 13*, as they take a drink.

A second for Nana as Oberholzer, on 5, edges him low to Alex Roy at slip. Since when Recordon has continued in company with Arnav Jain, who’s faced 15 deliveries so far but has yet to get off the mark. Alex Roy operating now from the Pavilion End, with Ingram on from the University End.

Double bowling change at De Diepput as well, with Josh Brown and Hidde Overdijk into the attack. Dutt, who had moved to 30*, greets Overdijk by driving him straight for four, belting him over long on for six. Ostling’s on 28*, and Hermes’ fine opening stand continues.

It was, it turns out, Sam Ferguson rather than his brother who came in at three, and he’s been bowled by a peach of a delivery from Kingma, full length and cutting away to beat Ferguson’s defensive bat. He made 13, and Kyle Klesse has joined Balwantsingh. Mees van Vliet and Udit Nashier into the attack now.

Niels Etman replaces Ralston from the City End, and Singh drives him sweetly through the covers for his second boundary. He’s on 20* now, Cassidy on 8*. Karson Edward on for Blankestijn at Mulder’s End..

The carrier pigeons haven’t been getting through from Craeyenhout, but we learn that two wickets have fallen in the interim: Del Bianco caught by one of the Zulfiqars off Tariq for 2, and then Mason run out for a relatively bright 23. Tayo Walbrugh and Wesley Barresi working to get the innings back on an even keel.

A wicket at Maarschalkerweerd as well, as Janett cracks Nana square and is very smartly caught by Lorenzo Ingram at point. Gone for 6, bringing Christiaan Oberholzer to the crease for VOC for the first time.

Ostling has started where he left off last season, cracking three boundaries off Crowley and moving briskly to 23*. Dutt content to play more sedately at the other end, and De Lange is contributing a tidy opening spell. But a very promising start from Hermes.

The first wicket of the season is claimed by Tom de Leede, as Steenbergen pulls him down the throat of Cedric de Lange at deep square leg. He goes for 8, and is succeeded by debutant Tim Ferguson.

Vikram Singh and Jack Cassidy open for VRA, with Jason Ralston and Jens Blankestijn taking the new ball for Excelsior. No alarums so far, but equally no boundaries either.

Suleiman Tariq and Aaliyan Mahmood keep it quiet at Craeyenhout as well: just a couple of singles to Lucas del Bianco so far, Reece Mason yet to get off the mark.

Alex Roy also opts to give the opposition first chance with the bat, Scott Janett and Pieter Recordon facing Shashank Kumar and Kirtan Nana. And what you’d have to say is a very sedate start.

Noah Croes elects to put Sparta in, and Viv Kingma bowls the first over to Jochem Steenbergen. Prithvi Balwantsingh the other batter. A boundary by Steenbergen gets the scoreboard moving.

Floris de Lange starts from the Van Hogenhoucklaan End, to Aryan Dutt, who’s paired with Ash Ostling. Starts with a wide, but thereafter he’s on target, and that’s all the scoring. Daniel Crowley from the Scoreboard End.

Sikander Zulfiqar has called correctly at Craeyenhout, and the champions elect to field.

The home side win the toss at De Diepput as well – but HCC will have a bowl.

In the Amsterdamse Bos VRA have won the toss and elected to bat.