Topklasse Live | Round 1 | As it Happened

And that’s all she wrote. Jamil gets a second as Fletcher tries to take him over long off, more elevation than distance and held in the deep. Kothari’s 4-41 the pick of the bowling but Rushmere’s extraordinary maiden Topklasse knock the real difference in the end as Hermes win by 136 runs.

Nine down now as Hoseinbaks plays around one from Jamil. Van Wingerden still there on a spirited (if far from chanceless) run-a-ball 19. Fletcher last man.

Well certainly now, as Schooheim sends up a big leading edge back over Dutt, who has half a mind to claim the catch himself before Braat waves him off and bags it tracking round from midwicket. Hoseinbaks in at ten, and VOC batting for pride and net run rate damage limitation now.

Slide well and truly on now as Dutt has Price bowled hacking across the line. Jelte Schoonheim in to join van Wingerden, but the result surely beyond doubt now.

Asking rate very much dictating play now. Fourie takes Herrington for three fours in the 22ns, with varying degrees of control. Thick outside edge over slips the worst of them, backfoot square drive the best. Dutt on and might have had Fourie second ball but a thick edge just evades slip and runs to the rope. It’s Kothari again with the breakthrough though, after being swept for four the previous ball gets a bit of extra bounce and has Fourie shovelling it to mid on, then extracts a leading edge from Malik next ball which is held in the off side. Van Wingerden in.

Slow going after drinks, and the pressure (or our friend Nelson?) tells. Kothari finds the fourth, drift across and turn back in to trap van der Meulen, who looks bewildered. Might as well have been given out obstructing too as he needlessly picked up the ball after as Hermes were appealing. Very out either way. Price in and 329 looks as far off as ever.

And a good day for debutants indeed! The Belgian international takes a wicket with his first Topklasse delivery, hard length, cramps Montagu for room and feathered through behind. He goes for 59. Fourie at five. Van der Meulen off the mark pulling hard through midwicket for four to bring up the hundred, but still less than a third of the way there and the hosts are on the ropes as we go to drinks.

A good day for debutants again it seems, as Motagu goes to fifty off 46 balls clipping Kothari off his pads for a single. Harhangi gets after Elenbaas next over, dug in short and pulled away for four, and a no-ball for good measure. The free hit is put away through mid off, which prompts a change of line – around the wicket to the left hander now. Kothari is the man who gets him though, having been swung away for four over midwicket first ball, has Harhangi pushing at the last and edging to slip. Van der Meulen in. Looks like Herrington will take over from Elenbaas at the other end.

Montagu continues to get after Numair, twice taking him for four through the off side from the first two balls of the eighth over. And Braat comes in for some punishment in the next, twice whipped away over the leg side and then guided through vacant second slip. This prompts a double bowling change, as Kothari and Elenbaas take over.

Still a bit loose from Numair, two wides down leg then overcorrects and is cut away through point for four. De Kok finds the rope in the next too, driving Braat through cover, then survives an enthusiatic celebrappeal as he’s struck on the pads, maybe just sneaking down leg. And picks up another four in Numair’s next, too much width again, but gone next ball looking to cut again, nicked and gone. Harhangi at three.

And we’re back. Montagu on debut opening with skipper Tim de Kok, while de Kok’s opposite number Sabba Braat takes the new ball. Wide outside off first up, but tidy for the rest, Montagu off the mark brushing one off thew pads for a single the only scoring shot. Numair from the other end, rather less tidy. Slashed uppishly for four behind point first ball by Montagu, and taken for four more a little squarer by de Kok on the last.

Elenbaas’s batting now becomes close to outrageous, as he scoops Harhangi to fine leg from a metre outside off stump, He starts the last over on 84*, but although Statham immediately gives him the strike back, he still needs four off the final delivery. Schoonheim bowls it at his legs as he advances down the wicket, he misses, and he has to be content with a splendid 96*.

Another for Malik, as Braat holes out to Van Wingerden on the midwicket boundary. Nick Statham, 51 years young, is the new man. He’d played 163 Hoofdklasse matches before David Rushmere was born. But he still scampers with the best of ’em, and he and Elenbaas bring up the 300 with a couple of overs left.

In all that excitement I omitted to mention that Elenbaas had brought up an 83-ball fifty, and his role is now to take over where Rushmere left off. Which he does to some purpose, cheekily scooping Fletcher over 45 and down to the boundary. Elenbaas and Braat are just rubbing it in now: a boundary apiece off the latest Schoonheim over, and twelve off it in total.

All good things come to an end, and finally a tired Rushmere makes a mistake, thrashing at a full-length Malik delivery and top-edging high towards slip, Montague taking the catch. He finishes with 169, made from 140 deliveries with 26 fours and two sixes. The stand of 184, incidentally, is a club record for the fourth wicket. Sebastiaan Braat joins Elenbaas with seven overs left.

A lofted straight drive off Harhangi takes Rushmere past 150, and when he tucks the returning Fletcher behind square he posts the highest-ever score on debut in the Dutch top flight, passing Zoehrer’s 153. Two more fours in the over bring him to 164* with eight overs left. Elenbaas on 46*, and the partnership’s worth 175.

Into the last ten, and a word about Olivier Elenbaas, who has played a fine knock, content to be a support act in the Rushmere show. Which is becoming more spectacular by the moment, as he slashes Schoonheim square for four, then lifts him over square leg for six. He’s on 145* now, and only Tim Zoehrer has made more on debut in the Dutch top flight.

Elenbaas slashes at Schoonheim in the second over after drinks, but Montague can’t cling onto a sharp shoulder-high chance. Price, meanwhile, has switched to the Airport End, but Rushmere drives him back straight for four, then lashes him into the jungle beyond long on, the first six of his innings. He’s on 128* now, with twelve overs remaining and the 200 on the board.

The evergreen Jelte Schoonheim on from the Pavilion End, the eighth bowler tried as Rushmere and Elenbaas turn the screw. He’s often proved a partnership-breaker, but this time he sees the stand reach 100, with Rushmere now on 108* and Elenbaas on 30* as they take another drink.

Ahsan Malik back from the Airport End as De Kok searches for a breakthrough. But they can’t stop Rushmere from reaching his century, the 18th player in the 136-year history of the Dutch top flight to achieve this on debut, the first since Adam Wiffen for HCC in 2019, and the first ever for Hermes. It came off 101 deliveries and included 16 fours, and it had an air of inevitability about it from the moment he came to the crease.

What’s a par score at the Hazelaarweg today? Given the speed of the outfield, 240-250 at least, I reckon. Hermes are more or less on course at the halfway point, but against that they did have a propensity last season for middle-order collapses. Anyway, Asief Hoseinbaks on from the Pavilion End. And Rushmere promptly despatches his first two deliveries to the boundary, through the covers and then deftly behind point.

Double change, as Van der Meulen replaces Harhangi from the Airport End. He and Van Wingerden generally manage to cut out the boundaries, slowing Hermes’ progress somewhat, Rushmere and Elenbaas content for the moment to harvest singles. And Rushmere is decidedly quick between the wickets when he needs to be.

Rushmere belts Harhangi back over his head for a one-bounce four, but the youngster comes back well, beating him all ends up with his next. Siebe van Wingerden on from the Pavilion End, but Rushmere flays him through the covers for yet another boundary. Another two balls later brings up the hundred, of which Rushmere has contributed 67*. It’s turning into a wonderful knock.

Fifty for Rushmere on debut, as he drives Price to the extra cover boundary, the ninth four of his innings. And that’s drinks, with VOC doubtless a lot happier than they were twenty minutes ago.

First change from the Pavilion End: Ethan Price into the attack. Rushmere despatches his second delivery behind point for another four, and then drives the slightly overpitched last ball of the over wide of mid-off for another. Then Harhangi breaks the stand, cramping Ostling up as he makes to pull, and Montague (for he, it seems, is the keeper) making a lot of ground to his left to take the catch. He goes for 19, and is succeeded by Aryan Dutt. Who lasts one ball, feathering a catch through to Montague. Which comes as a relief to your commentator, since both he and Rushmere were wearing no. 88 sweaters. Olivier Elenbaas in at five.

Malik’s four overs having cost 32 runs, he’s replaced at the Airport End by Roman Harhangi. He bowls from wide of the crease, angling in to the right-handers, and it forces them to play into the on side, cutting out those offside boundaries. Has to be precise, though, and when he gives Ostling a little too much room he turns him to the square leg rope. Just a wide off Fletcher’s fifth, but Hermes have definitely had the better of the powerplay.

Rushmere is savage with anything full, and he drives Fletcher powerfully through the covers for another four. He gives Malik the treatment as well, driving fluently through cover point for yet another. And then, to prove he’s not a one-trick pony, he lofts him out to long on for one more. Two balls later he repeats the dose, and suddenly he’s raced to 34* off 29 deliveries.

A single for Rushmere off Fletcher to get off the mark, and then he, too, takes a liking to Malik, clipping him for two more boundaries. At last we have vision, and we can see that Fletcher is getting some good movement away from the right-handers. When he overpitches, though, Rushmere drives him into the covers for three, and Hermes are making good progress after that early wicket.

Fletcher opens with a wide, but then his second legitimate delivery takes an edge of Doyle’s bat and the catch is taken by keeper Francois Fourie. Big wicket, that, as Rushmere joins Ostling.

Ash Ostling and Daniel Doyle Calle open for Hermes as usual, Ahsan Malik taking the first over from the Airport End. Currently flying blind here, but I can tell you that Ostling’s hit back-to-back boundaries to get the scoreboard moving. Pierce Fletcher to bowl the second.

Sebastiaan Braat has won the toss and elected to have a bat. VOC will have two new overseas in their side, Caleb Montague and Ethan Price, joining Jason van der Meulen. And of course, they welcome back Ahsan Malik, after an absence of several seasons at nearby Sparta. For the Sky Blues, David Rushmere and Oliver Harrington will make their debut..

And Nashier finally goes for 59, caught behind point off the Rotterdam skipper. Sharad Hake last man, Burhan Niaz on now to bowl the last defending 32, which he does without difficulty. VRA end on 310-9 as Rotterdam win by 28 runs.

Abhinay goes, holing out straight off Zulfiqar, bringing young Adam Madgwick to the crease.

And two youngsters fighting hard at the Zomercomplex too as Nashier brings up his fifty whipping Mumba fine for four. 47 needed from the last four, implausible but not impossible.

Crowley holds them to three from the penultimate over, and Overdijk will bowl the last. Swaroop blocks the first back for a dot, then pulls out as classy a cover driven four as you’ll ever see to seal the win. His 43 not out as fine a Topklasse debut as I’ve seen in some time too. Fantastic effort from the two youngsters, de Lange finishing unbeaten on 112, as with four balls to spare Voorburg win by 4 wickets.

Swaroop and de Lange still on target here, the former on to 30* now and pushing de Lange hard with some lightning running between the wickets, HCC feeling it in the field too. And dug in short by Brown now, Swaroop equal to it and pulled high over backward square for six. Fantastic cameo at the back end to take some pressure off de Lange, and VCC look on top for the first time in some 90 overs. Just six needed.

Nashier ensuring VRA at least going down swinging as he steps well across to Tariq and slams him over square for six. But two balls later Thakur holes out trying to imitate the shot. Abhinay in.

Del Bianco brings up his fifty cutting Roy behind square, but the cause is well lost at this point. And all over now, big sweep aimed at Jacod, more height than distance, and he finally falls for a creditable 65. HBS all out for 175 as Kampong win by 81 runs.

And a phenomenal hundred under pressure from de Lange, brings it up punching Crowely down the ground for one. He’s kept the home side in the game throughout the chase, and the finish line just creeping into view now. Swaroop going well in the supporting role too, singles suddely look a lot easier to find. HCC beginning to sweat.

And it’s all getting rapidly less interesting at the Zomercomplex too, skied sweep off Shafiq sees Smal hole out for a fighting 46. Udit Nashier in. Asking rate pushing tens now.

A second for Gopinath as Boddendijk edges behind, van Oosterom in, then a top edged sweep off Jacod does for van Oosterom, Del Bianco three away from fifty. Kamran last man.

Scoreboard pressure telling at the Zomercomplex now as Shariz holes out off Saqib Zufiqar. Thakur joins Smal.

De Lange sweeps Kloppenburg into the gap for four, bringing a smattering of applause from the balcony. String of singles and he keeps the strike. into the 90s noiw, precisely a run a ball needed from here.

Shafiq back, and VRA lose their fourth as Zaidi walks past one and is stumped. Shariz Ahmad joins Smal, who will be crucial to VRA’s slender hopes from here you’d think.

Del Bianco likewise low on partners now as Jacod takes back to back wickets to see off Mason and Scholte. Del BIanco into the forties, Boddendijk in with HBS still 120 runs adrift, and Kampong would have to work hard to lose this from here you’d have to say.

De Lange beginning to run low on partners now as Kulkarni tries to take Kloppenburg over the leg side, miscues and is comofortably caught by the keeper tracking across. Swaroop in, de Lange on 77* now but the asking rate just beginning to tick up too.

Cassidy goes, cleaned up by a seed from Mumba that looked to jag in a mile. Ibad Zaidi in and VRA wobbling hard of a sudden.

Hundred up for HBS meanwhile as del Bianco and Navjit Singh fight a rearguard. Bangs finds the breakthrough now though as Singh swings him away high on the on side into the hands of Ingram. Mason in, Jacod on from the other end.

A repreive for de LAnge as he’s caught mid on off Brown, but the umpire’s arm is out. Brown gets the consolation wicket of Glover however, a checked-lofted drive well held by Gorlee tracking back from mid on. Kulkarni in, and all on de Lange now you’d say.

Finally a breakthorugh for the hosts, as Nidamanuru holes out of his opposite number for 55. Johan Smal in, and one brings two as Singh is run out for 70 in the next. Sam Cassidy the new man.

And a fine fifty for de Lange as he runs Crowley down to third for one. Voorburg close to half way home now, time enough but HCC not far away from the tail. Overdijk back.

Another down at Crayenhout, as Botha is sold a dummy by del Bianco and is comprehensively run out. Navjit Singh. in

Fifty for Nidamanuru tucking Zulfiqar off the pads for a single, Singh not far behind as he dances down thre track to launch a staight six, and then dabs a single to leg for his own half century. A solid start for the visitors you have to say.

Another down at Crayenhout, and it’s a big one, Walburgh feathering an outside edge through to the keeper off Roy. Del Bianco joins Botha.

Consolidation the order of the day here, de Lange and Glover still, the former looking particularly composed. Floyd and Leijer operating for the visitors.

Prolonged, as yet unexplained hold-up mid-Tariq over at the Zomercomplex, but they’re back underway, and the hundred up in the 16th over.

Gopinath into the attack and a drag-down third ball is slapped disdainfully over leg for six by de Mey, but the next is on the money, and edged staright to slip. Goedeke at three. Doesn’t last long though, nicked off by Roy for 1. Botha at four.

VRA still up with the pace with all ten in hand as Singh gets after Shafiq, back to back sixes over the leg side and then cover. Zulfiqar turns to Tariq for come control.

Breakthrough here though as Croes goes back deep in the crease to Kloppenburg, too full for that really and he’s bowled under the bat. And Another! Klein LBW second ball. Don Glover to the crease to join de Lange, and a lot on that young man’s shoulders now.

De Mey and Walburgh continue to make unshowy progress at Craeyenhout, an optimistic appeal from Roy for LBW on de Mey, then an almost desperate one for caught down leg. No joy on either.

Teun Kloppenburg into the attack here now, Croes comes down the track to him third ball for a lofted straight four, otherwise tidy enough. Still Brown at the other end and de Lange tales one from the textbook, lovely high elbow as hie drives through extra for four.

Another five wides down leg from Mumba helps VRA keep up with the demanding pace, Nidamanuru driving the scoring as he moves to 20*. Shafiq still tidy from the other end, but Mumba’s really struggling to find his line to the left handed Singh, wide again and then slot, flicked over backward square for six.

It’s been slow going at Craeyenhout in the meantime, as Alex Roy brings himself on to bowl. Five dots on de Mey but the last is in the slot and swung away over square for the first six of the innings. Still Kumar from the other end.

Croes and de Lange rebuilding here meanwhile after the early wickets, some attractive shots in there but looks like the ball’s still doing a bit for Crowley and Brown, who has just taken over from Overdijk. HCC have been solid in field so far too. Oh until now, as Floyd puts down a very sharp chance at point off Brown. De Lange survives, and picks up four off an outside edge, and that’s a no-ball to boot. And another. Suddenly a bit sloppy from the visitors.

And they’re back on at the ‘Plex too, where Nidamanuru has promoted himself to open with Singh. Carl Mumba’s first Topklasse delivery for his new club is speared down leg for five wides, and two balls later Singh pulls him round the corner for four. Nidamanuru’s off the mark with a boundary driving through cover two balls later. A good start for VRA but a long long way to go. Shafiq from the other end.

Chase underway at Craeyenhout now too, De Mey and Walburgh for the hosts, Kumar to open the bowling. A wide down leg the only blemish on his first over.Left arm spin from the other end as Ingram shares the new ball.

Maiden for Crowley first up including a big shout for LBW, but he’s over the wicket to the left handed de Lange so always a bit optimistic, pitching outside presumably. Overdijk continues at the other end and bags another, Mohsen miscuing a lofted drive and catching practice for Worden tracking back from mid off. Croes to the crease and beaten on the outside first ball, but off the mark glancing fine for a hard run three on the next. Scratch that, was off the pad it seems. De Lange, does get off the mark though tucking the last ball of the over to leg.

And an eventful first over, short first up and Levitt pulls high behind square for four, similar shot two balls later, but the fourth is driven hard straight to Crowley in the covers. Mohsen at three and watchful. And looks like Crowley will share the new ball.

So 231 will be the target, Levitt and de Lange opening for the hosts, and looks like Hidde Overdijk with the new ball in hand.

It all ends in a flurry: Singh removes first Mumba and then Niaz in the same over, and then Thakur has Fawad Shinwari with the penultimate delivery of the innings. Suleiman Tariq is run out off the last, but that’s been enough Rotterdamage, one suspects.

Gopinath is run out, and the Kampong innings closes on 256.

Taking full advantage of a number 7’s dream situation, Niaz plunders a 30-ball half-century, bringing it up with a six off Thakur, and then races on to 69* before Musa completes his 125-ball hundred. An early claim for an opening spot for the former Dutch international, you’d think. He doesn’t add to it, though, as he pulls the next delivery he receives from Thakur down the throat of Smal at wide mid-on. Carl Mumba joins Niaz (who’s now on 76*).

Alex Roy contributes a very useful 32 to his side’s total, but then Van Oosterom returns and produces a peach of a yorker to uproot his middle stump. Last man Gopinath joins Kumar.

Brown and Crowley make a liar of me, taking their side well past 200, before Crowley becomes another to hole out to mid-off, giving Van Vliet a well-deserved Michelle. He finishes with 5-49, and HCC, on the basis that you can never judge the worth of a total until both sides have batted, may not be too unhappy with that.

A very different kind of drama at the Zomercomplex, where Musa is inexorably nearing his hundred and his side approach 300, aided enormously by a 29-ball 47* from Niaz. Musa’s on 95*.

A not dissimilar story at Craeyenhout, where Bangs has holed out to Walbrugh at deep square off Botha, Sharma is given leg-before in the South African’s next over, and then Robert van der Harten is LBW to debutant Kamran. That is by any standards a fairly dramatic collapse.

The game’s moved quickly at Westvliet. First, Floyd drives Glover back straight, the bowler gets his toe to it and deflects it into the stumps, and Banerjee, on 54, is out of his ground. Very, very unlucky way to go. Then Van Vliet, back from the Paddock End, strikes twice, Floyd mistiming a lofted drive and caught by Cedric de Lange at mid-off for 18, and Patel, four balls later, caught in the same position for 4. Suddenly, 200 seems a long way off as Daniel Crowley joins Brown in the middle.

Sikander takes over where Saqib left off, though admittedly not with the same sense of devastating urgency. He does get stuck into Shariz, hitting a four and back-to-back sixes, but when he tries to do the same to the persistent Nashier he succeeds only in holing out to Johan Smal at long on and departs for 37. Musa, who is giving the impression that VRA will need a corkscrew and a tyre lever to remove him from the crease, is now on 86*, and is joined by Burhan Niaz.

Botha gets in on the act: Jacod, having reached his fourth Topklasse fifty, is pinned in front – although the batter’s not wholly persuaded of that, it seems – and departs for 52. Tushar Sharma in to join Bangs, and Kampong still have a bit of work to do. HBS, not for the first time, are taking for ever to get through their overs, by the way.

Banerjee posts his second Topklasse half-century with a back-foot drive into the covers off Floris de Lange, then Floyd meatily pulls the next over midwicket for six. Not sure what par would be at Westvliet today, but I imagine HCC would be mightly relieved were they to get past 200.

Edwards has gone as well, caught at deep backward point by Atal Kamran in Julien de Mey’s second over for 70. Lachlan Bangs in to join Jacod, who is on 38*.

It’s Abhinay who removes Saqib, who tucks him square on the on side and is caught low by Shariz. He goes for 90, made from 60 deliveries with nine fours and five sixes, missing out on what would have been a very well-deserved century. Anchor-man Musa’s still there on 58*, joined now by skipper Sikander Zulfiqar.

Klein finishes with 0-23 off ten, and after a brief appearance by Cedric de Lange and a slightly longer one by his brother Floris, Jaynul Islam returns from the Pavilion End. Banerjee and Overdijk, though, are digging their side out of trouble – or they were until Overdijk bottom-edged Islam into his stumps and departed for 22. Clayton Floyd joins Banerjee, who’s on 37*.

Goedeke and Boddendijk have bowled 20 overs straight, Goedeke going for 37 and Boddendijk’s big-hearted effort yielding 49. Just the wickets of Van den Berg and Ingram to show for that, and with Edwards (now 63*) and Jacod (30*) building another solid partnership, Walbrugh’s reluctance to change his bowlers is a little surprising.

Fifty for Musa as well as Rotterdam march on: the partnership’s now up to 113 and counting, and Saqib has gone on to 76*, from 51 balls and with five sixes. The home side’s batters know the dimensions of the Zomercomplex to within a millimetre, and take full advantage. Darsh Abhinay is on now in place of Shariz, but it’s made little difference to Rotterdam’s relentless progress.

Ryan Klein has been bowling a tidy spell of off-spin from the Pavilion End, and when Kloppenburg appears to lose sight of one he takes it on the helmet. No concussion check – maybe at Klein’s pace these days they think it’s unnecessary, but still. There is a conversation at the end of the over, but then Croes’s magic works again, as Van Vliet returns from the Paddock End and Kloppenburg edges his second delivery through to the Voorburg captain. Hidde Overdijk in at six.

Edwards isn’t far behind, although he reaches 50 more sedately with a single. Jacod takes a leaf out of his partner’s book by sweeping at Goedeke, though without success, and Edwards comes down the pitch to give him a quick tutorial. Or maybe a ‘Don’t try that again, son!’.

Saqib survives a caught-and-bowled chance off Nashier, then thumps the next, a full toss, through midwicket for his fourth six, posting the first half-century of the campaign, off 30 deliveries. He’s on 58* now, Musa on 44*, and Rotterdam have the makings of a big total.

Big wicket for HBS, as Ingram tries a mighty pull off Boddendijk, doesn’t get all of it, and keeper Del Bianco drops back to take the catch. Ingram made 18, while Edwards has moved to 49* as he’s joined by Pierre Jacod.

Mohsen strikes again, Staal, on 33, skying him back over his head and Van Vliet moving to his left from mid-on to snaffle the catch. And that, too, is the cue for a drink, with Teun Kloppenburg coming in to join Banerjee. The Lions’ middle order has some work to do.

Nidamanuru turns to spin, with Udit Nashier on from the Equestrian Centre End and Shariz Ahmad from the other. They take an early drink, though, as someone (Nidamanuru?) appears to sustain a hand injury off camera. Saqib has raced past Musa, hitting six fours and three sixes in a 28-ball 46*; Musa’s 37* at the other end.

Hundred up at Craeyenhout: Benno Boddendijk, who’s replaced Van Oosterom at the Scoreboard End, has managed to cut out the boundaries, but Edwards and Ingram are happy with singles, and six of those is still six from the over. Edwards 42* now, Ingram 14*.

Croes can seemingly do no wrong from the Paddock End: now he brings Mohsen into the attack, and Gorlee, attempting an ambitious legside scoop off his second delivery, is bowled for 15. Shirsak Banerjee joins Staal, who’s on 32*.

Another setback for Rotterdam, as Tariq, desperate to get off the mark, pushes Singh gently into the leg side, sets off for an imaginary run, Thakur swoops, and Tariq is run out by half the length of the pitch. Since then, though, Musa and Saqib Zulfiqar have set about rebuilding the tottering innings, and they’ve done so in some style. Musa’s on 32* now, Saqib on 16*.

Van den Berg and Edwards extend their partnership to 72, but then Walburgh brings Kent Goedeke into the attack, and with his second Topklasse delivery the spinner removes Van den Berg, who tries to belt him into the Sportlaan and is comprehensively bowled. He mad 42 from 29, and is succeeded by Lorenzo Ingram. Edwards is on 34* from 26.

The haul proves to be quite short for Worden: Mees van Vliet replaces Glover from the Paddock End, Worden leans back to flay his first delivery, and hits it head-high to Waseem Mohsen at mid-on. Boris Gorlee joins Staal, who’s on 26*.

Breakthrough for VRA as Minhas, after clipping Vikram Singh sweetly through square leg for four, top-edges the next and is caught by Ibaad Zaidi at point, departing for 14. And one gets two, as in Viraj Thakur’s next Muhammad Asif Gondal is strangled down the leg side and caught by Adam Madgwick. Affaan Rauf Tariq in to join Musa, who’s on 24 off 22.

Van Oosterom comes in for some tap, Edwards twice squeezing him through point for four, but from the Sportlaan End Lehan Botha is also taking some punishment, Van den Berg racing to 21* from 16. A promising recovery after that early loss of O’Dowd.

Worden is digging in for the long haul, just a couple off his first 11 balls, but Staal has started the more aggressively. And now he lofts Glover effortlessly back over his head for six, moving to 18 off 20 deliveries.

A brisk start at the Zomercomplex, where Teja Nidamanuru won the toss and put the hosts in. Six off Sharad Hake’s first over and nine off the VRA captain’s, and after two overs Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas have got Rotterdam off to a flyer.

Drama at Craeyenhout, where, after Damien van den Berg gets a boundary and a single off Joris van Oosterom’s first two deliveries, Max O’Dowd drives his first ball loosely and uppishly into the covers and is caught by Reece Mason. Not a great start for the defending champions, and the first wicket of the season goes to the HBS youngster. Scott Edwards the new man.

Boris Gorlee called incorrectly, we learn, and Noah Croes inserted the visitors. Jaynul Islam opens from the Pavilion End, bowling to Tonny Staal, whose partner is Zac Worden. Staal gets off the mark with a boundary, followed by a double, and when Islam strays onto leg stump he turns him behind square for a single. A dot to Worden completes the over. Don Glover, another debutant, from the Paddock End.

HCC appear to be batting at Westvliet, although we don’t yet know who won the toss. Jaynul Islam wasn’t in Voorburg’s original twelve, but he will indeed be making his Topklasse debut today.

At Craeyenhout, Alex Roy has won the toss and opted to have a bat.