Topklasse Live | Round 10 | As it Happened

Blankestijn bunts to cover but is bafflingly slow setting off for the single, gets home more by luck than judgement. Verhagen, back on strike deposits the next ball over long on for the first six of his long innings. Turns down a single next ball, and then takes a knee to slog-sweep for six more. Wide yorker attempted, too wide. Another single wide of midwicket, but turned down again. Should have taken it really Has to manufacture a single to retain strike next ball, looks to turn a straighter full ball to leg, misses and struck on the pad. Takes a while, but the finger goes up and Verhagen finally falls for 80 off 120 as VRA win by 22 runs.

Verhagen dealing in even numbers early in the over, as you’d expect. Gets enough of a slog toward cow for four, then cuts a low wide full toss for a couple. More delays now for some reason. Changing the ball maybe? And we’re finally back. Three dots to finish the over. Not enough for the hosts and Verhagen now marooned at the non-strikers as Hake returns for the death.

Edward aims a big mow at a widish fuller ball from Turmaine and inside edges into hsi stumps. Blankestijn in and off the mark three balls later. Verhagen finds a single off the last to keep strike, Turmaine finishes with 2-27 in 10. Ruffel returns with Excelsior needing an improbable 43 off the last five overs.

Tight again from Turmaine, just two singles off it, but it’s Thakur that strikes at the other end, Ralton shanking an attempted square drive to Gouge at point. Edward in at ten but can’t get off strike, four dots and then a gifted single to keep him there. Turmaine to bowl out from the pavilion end….

Two tight overs from Turmaine and Thakur are spoiled only by some needless overthrows turning a single into a three. 150 up for Excelsior. 48 needed from 8 overs. Everyone but Abid has overs still to bowl, but not many as Smal’s only used the five bowlers. Ruffel has three left, Hake and Turmaine two, Thakur just the one. And unsurprisingly it will be Turmaine to continue. Ruffel and Hake will share the final five you’d think.

So back then to Thurlede for the day’s last going concern, where we find VRA and Excelsior somehow running ten overs behind everyone else. Turmaine has deprived Verhagen of yet another partner in the interim, Etman caught extra cover trying to manufacture a back foot drive. Ralston in with his skipper now, 54 needed off the last ten, Verhagen will need at least 43 of those if he wants his ton. VRA need three wickets.

Arnav Jain absolutely desperate to finish this in spectacular style, first ball looks to scoop bangs over the shoulder but can’t connect. Misses the next outside off, with four from four needed they have a chat and indeed steal a tight single of an under-edge next ball. It’s Aaditt who finds the winning runs though, albeit in no kind of style as another edge evades the field and runs away to the rope. A gutsy partnership under pressure nonetheless from the Jains, and it’s delivered their side a most remarkable victory as VOC win by 3 wickets.

Arnav down the track to Jacod looking to level the scores with a big six, misses, but gets a thick enough edge to evade the keeper and they run three. Aaditt finds a single. four needed off the final over. Bangs to bowl it, Arnav on strike.

All over at the ‘Plex. Rossouw goes aims a big reverse slog-sweep at Saqib, not a bad option if it connects in the circumstances, but it doesn’t and he’s plumb. Punjab win by 38 runs

Another savage cut off Jacod finds the square rope, and VOC edge closer. 14 needed off 18.

Collapse continues at the Zomercomplex meanwhile, Del Bianco next to go, falls for 31 feathering an edge through to Shinwari off Saqib Zulfiqar, who’s celebrating for a good while before remembering to appeal. And now another for Sqaib as Boddendijk holes out to deep midwicket. Rossouw last man, 40 needed off the last three overs.

VOC stumbling down the final stretch now as Jacod claim’s de Kok’s off stump, and two balls later Roy spears one through Vermeulen into leg. All down, once again, to the brothers Jain. Aaditt in and cuts his first ball savagely through point to the rope. 21 needed from 30 balls.

Verhagen goes to fifty stroking Thakur out to long off for one, then a helpful four byes as the next ball beats everyone. 78 needed in 17 overs now, and you’d think this pair will have to get most of them.

And the pressure brings a wicket at the Zomercomplex too as de beer looks for a release shot but can only sweep Musa Ahmad into the hands of deep square Scholte joins Del Bianco and they edge past 200, but Scholte hesitates as Del Bianco calls him for a tight single to backward point – and is lost. Ahmad rifles in the throw, Shinwari collects and back-hands it into the stumps. De Mey in at nine and 260 looking a long way off.

VOC wobbling of a sudden at Hazelaarweg as Monty Singh’s egregious ball-watching sees him run out for 13, and then next over Roy gets Jannet, cramped on the pull and a top-edge held at mid off. Tim de Kok and Arnav Jain the new men. Just 41 needed off the last ten overs but Kampong look on top again.

Hundred up for Excelsior meanwhile, where Etman and Verhagen have arrested the flow of wickets for the time being. Thakur and Turmaine now for VRA.

Last throw of the dice for Sparta as Snoep brings Klesse into the attack for the first time this season. It doesn’t go well. First ball is cut away for four by Kaplan, next is wide outside off. Rest of the over is tidy enough but it hardly matters. Another neophyte bowler for the next over, Sam Ferguson to bowl his first ball, and Tom de Leede flicks it fine off his pads for four as Voorburg win by 8 wickets.

Musa and Minhas putting the squeeze on at the Zomercomplex meanwhile. No boundaries since the 30th and just 25 runs off the last nine as De beer and Del Bianco play it safe. Asking rate creeping up though, edging toward 7s as we go to drinks.

Oberholzer’s long stay at the crease is brought to an end by Bangs, caught for a 33 off 60. A very handy contribution in the circumstances. Monty Singh at five to join Jannet, who’s on 72*.

Cedric de Lange falls not long after making fifty, edging Max Hoornweg behind in the next over. Hard to see the wicket influencing the outcome though. Just 20 required as Tom de Leede joins Kaplan in the middle.

And Hake has a third, Joost Kroesen this time driving low to cover where Thakur takes a cracking low catch. He goes for a useful but likely insufficient 20. Verhagen, still there on 37*, is joined by Niels Etman.

One brings two at the Zomercomplex as Minhas tosses one fuller and gets a return catch off a leading edge to remove Walbrugh. And two brings three now as new man Khan sets off for a suicide single to backward square and is duly sent back to his doom. From complete control to shambles in the space of three overs, HBS need de Beer and Del Bianco to steady things here now.

All over at the Loopuyt, Overdijk’s first scoring shot is a firmly driven four back past Braat to seal the game. Crowley finishes unbeaten on 30* as HCC win by 3 wickets.

Kampong looking a little short on ideas as Jannet and Oberholzer continue to make steady progress toward the total. If the addage “double a thirty with wickets in hand” holds they should get home comfortably from here, but of course, bar Singh, the rest of the batting card is in deeply dubious form. With the asking rate still barely over 3.5 from here though, you’d have to make VOC favourites…

Cedric de Lange’s fine season continues meanwhile, goes to fifty with back-to-back fours off Baker over midwicket and then behind square. Voorburg cruising home.

And it’s Doyle-Calle that breaks the partnership in the end, swooping in from mid on with a lightning pick-up-and-throw, direct hit sees Banerjee well short and gone for 30. But has it come too late for Hermes? Well probably much too late really. Just a handful to get and Overdijk in at nine.

Botha goes after Niaz now, and to great effect, two sixes pulled over square this over, a four through the covers to boot and 19 off it. Punjab need to break this partnership quick if they’re to stay in the game. Musa Ahmad from the other end now, and break it he does! Botha forward and a wristy drive, but doesn’t get on top of it and it flies low to extra, where Sikander holds on. Botha goes for a 72-ball 68. Del Bianco in. Walbrugh still there on 45*. 108 to get in 23.

More wickets at Thurlede. Lots more. Abid cleans up van Troost thrid ball of the 14th, then next over Hake adds Brett Hampton’s scalp to his collection, through a defensive prod into the base of the stumps. Abid strikes again in the next, Luuk Kroesen slashing a wide one to Gouge at backward point, and Excelsior’s chase in a state. Joost Kroesen in to join his skipper, who’s on 33*.

Jannet and Oberholzer still for VOC, and the pair have taken them half-way by the half-way stage. Jannet’s on to 58* now, having brought up his fifty with a boundary off Gopinath, Oberholzer on 24*.

HCC only ever needed one partnership really, and seem to have found it in Banerjee and Crowley. The former’s taken his time getting set, but finds the rope now cutting Kothari fine first ball of the 36th. Crowley likewise finds the rope with a late cut on the last ball before drinks, and Hermes in dire need of a wicket again.

Mumba’s done a decent job at the top for VCC, but falls now on the penultimate ball of the powerplay caught down leg for a run-a-ball 30. Kaplan in to join de Lange.

Botha goes to fifty glancing Haider behind square for a single, Wlabrugh still with him in the 30s. They’ve put on 82 for the third wicket now and look to have the chase well in hand at the moment. Not yet half-way there though and Punjab will feel they’re only a wicket or two away from reclaiming the ascendancy…

Big wicket at Thurlede meanwhile as Naqvi is bowled missing a slog-sweep aimed at Hake. Stan van Troost at four.

Jannet and Oberholzer’s watchful 3rd-wicket stand should have been broken last ball of the 20th – Roy already celebrating as he takes Jannet’s outside edge, only to see the ball racing through to the rope rather than held.

Banerjee and Patel take HCC to three figures, and Braat throws the ball to offie Jamil to have a go at the left hander. The plan pays off two overs later, as Jamil finds the edge, Kothari holds on at slip and and Patel goes for a 35-ball 7. Crowley in.

Mumba’s making the most of his promotion up the order, thrice driving Snoep through or over the covers for four in the sixth, making hay while the field is up. Khalid Ahmadi replaces Malik at the other end.

Circumspection the order of the day at Thurlede too it seems after the early wicket. Verhagen and Naqvi still together, Abid and Ruffel still bowling unchaged

Botha and Walbrugh meanwhile putting the pressure back on the hosts at the Zomercomplex, closing in on a fifty partnertship and runs coming at a decent clip too. Haider and Saqib Zulfiqar for Punjab now.

Down at Harga Banerjee and Patel are digging in, they’ve eked out another 17 runs for the 6th wicket, but crucially survived to the halaf-way point. Kothari’s got four overs left, and Jabarkhail joins the attack from the other end now.

VOC two down meanwhile as Jacod trikes in his first over, floating it up fuller fourth ball and Kooistra rather yorks himself and is bowled. Oberholzer in to join Jannet, and a rather expensive over from Kumar ends the powerplay with honours about even you’d say.

No we won’t. Mumba goes hard at a drive and gets a thick outside edge,but it’s too thick and runs away behind point for a couple. Well that’s ruined what would have been a great bit of trivia. Booooo!

And they’re back at Westvliet too. Ahsan Malik opens the bowling with a maiden to Cedric de Lange. Carl Mumba has been promoted to open alongside, and he’s to face the 7th ball of the innings – delivered by Sparta skipper Martijn Snoep. Will we go five-from-five 7th ball wickets this afternoon…!?

Back on at Thurlede, and yet again the seventh ball of the innings is a wicket. This is getting weird. It’s Ashir Abid to strike with his first now, and he’d likely concede there was nothing about the ball to warrant a wicket either. lowish full toss, there to hit really, Rahaley bunts it up toward midwicket instead where Turmaine takes a rolling catch. Naqvi at three to join Verhagen, Ruffel shares the new ball.

Jannet and Kooistra consolidating meanwhile, they’ve plenty of room to do so too. Nana and Ingram still, the latter’s given up just five runs from his four overs so far. VOC will likely be happy enough to let him bowl his ten for ten so long as he doesn’t add anything to the wicket column.

And another for Kothari, Brown can’t decide if he’s coming forward or going back, ball’s through him and into the woodwork. Yash Patel in. Braat from the other end.

And Mason’s entertaining innings comes to an end, takes 14 off Shahzad in the 7th before being caught off the last for 32. Botha Joins Walbrugh.

Floyd and Banerjee had put together a most contrasting partnership for the fourth wicket, the former going at a run a ball and the latter with just one run from 20, but now Floyd falls to Kothari as the left-armer holds a low return catch in his follow through. Floyd goes for 38, Brown joins Banerjee. Could well get tense, this.

Underway again at the Zomercomplext too, and another wicket with the 7th ball of the innings as Shahzad’s first bowls Boendermaker. Mason joined by Walbrugh at three and the pair counter-attacking now as Mason takes Shahzad for consecutive fours in the next.

They’re back out there at Hazelaarweg, Lorenzo Ingram opening the bowling for the visitors and the left arm tweaker has Recordon in all sorts of trouble early – inside edge across the stumps, leading edge falls short of cover, twice beating the bat before a drag-down last ball gives up a single. Recordon swiftly regrets taking it though as next ball Kirtan Nana pegs back his middle stump. Jannet at three to join Kooistra, blocks out a wicket maiden.

Meanwhile at Westvliet the Spartan tail has wilted in the face of the host’s legspin duo of Boissevain and de Lange, the latter finishing with career-best figures of 3-6, as Sprat are bowled out for 133.

…Or are they? HCC have stumbled out of the gate in pursuit of this modest target, two down inside the powerplay, and now a third two balls later as Ollie White mistimes a drive off Braat and is spectacularly caught by Numair haring around from mid off. Earlier Numair himself had Tonny Staal pinned LBW with his first delivery, and Boris Gorlee caught chipping to midwicket a couple of overs later for 13 – as the HCC skipper’s incurable turf-aversion strikes again. Banerjee joins Floyd. Game on.

Naqvi gets the last, Sharad Hake trying to hit him into the middle of next week and Rahaley taking the catch at long on.

Something approaching stalemate at Westvliet: no further breakthrough, but not many runs coming either. And as I write that Baker holes out off Boissevain, Nashier taking the catch on the cover boundary. Khalid Ahmadi the new man.

Ralston’s too sharp for Ruffell, bowling him as he tries rather shakily to defend. Turmaine turns Etman fine for four, then reverses to smack him to the third man boundary. But when he tries to do it again he top-edges it, and Joost Kroesen runs a long way to grab the catch. .

Janett traps Kumar in front, and finally Harhangi gets Nana, caught by Van der Meulen for a valuable 20. Is 189 gettable by VOC off the Kampong attack? Time will tell.

Singh and Baker still there, Udit Nashier into the attack now.

Not to be: Thakur’s caught by Rahaley off Naqvi for 12, and Zaidi’s run out by a Blankestijn/Rahaley combination for 24.

Musa cuts loose in the final overs, racing to 114* with a string of boundaries, with Shahzad chipping in with an 18-ball 25* at the other end.

Half-century for Jacod, his second in the Topklasse, but on 56 he swings Arnav Jain out to deep midwicket, where Scott Janett takes the catch. Shashank Kumar joins Nana, who’s on 18*.

Two more for Usman: first he gets Ahsan Malik, caught by Gavin Kaplan at backward point for 16, then Boorer, having taken him for two boundaries in his previous over, edges through to Melville and departs for 24. Umar Baker joins Manminder Singh.

200+ on for VRA as well, although they’ll probably need these two to bat fairly deep into the final ten overs to get there. Ralston, Naqvi, Rahaley and Etman all have overs in hand.

Gondal’s caught by Walbrugh off De Mey, and Khurram Shahzad joins Musa, who’s moved on to 86*.

A useful little partnership, this, with Jacod now on 44* and Nana driving Harhangi through the covers for four. The Jains and Harhangi have an over apiece left, with Van der Meulen having only bowled four.

Ralston returns, and bowls Cassidy for 53, smashing into his leg stump. Viraj Thakur in to join Zaidi.

Sikander gets under a lofted drive off Rossouw, and when it comes down to earth Botha’s under it as well. Enter Burhan Niaz, then exit Niaz as he looks for a single that isn’t there as is run out by Azzam Khan’s return to De Mey. Muhammad Gondal in to join Musa.

Malik and Lukas Boorer setting about a rebuilding exercise; Philippe Boissevain into the attack from the Paddock End.

Musa’s gone on to 67* going into the last ten overs, with Sikander on 7*. Botha has two overs left, Rossouw and De Beer three, De Mey also two.

Just one run added, though, as Overdijk traps Numair in front for 11, finishing with four for 22, and Leijer cleaning up Hikmatullah Jabarkhail for figures of three for 16. Hermes will, as they say, have to bowl very, very well.

Aaditt Jain back from the Airport End, and a shortish delivery tempts Alex Roy into a false shot, the stiff-armed pull plying to Jason van der Meulen at midwicket. Kertan Nana in at nine, with Jacod now on 28*.

It’s Etman who gets the breakthrough, Smal caught behind by Verhagen for 42. Cassidy, now on 45*, is joined by Ibaad Zaidi.

Voorburg starting to assert themselves now, with Steenbergen skying Patient Charumbira towards point, Melville covering a lot of ground to take the catch. Next Usman Malik traps Kyle Klesse in front with the first delivery he receives, and two balls later he bowls Juandre Scheepers.

Another for Botha, Saqib chipping him behind square and seeing De Beer taking the catch. Brother Sikander succeeds him.

Drinks at the Loopuyt Oval as well, with Numair and Woermeijer having survived this far as they try to give themselves something to bowl at.

The overseas contingent having been and gone, it’s up to the locals to dig Kampong out of trouble. They’ve done that pretty well, but Scott Janett’s on from the Pavilion End, and he’s just bowled Van der Harten for 12. That’s the cue for another drink.

And the stand’s out to 64 now, with Smal on 35* and Cassidy on 41*. Rahaley still wheeling away from the Chalet End, Etman from the other.

Van Vliet gets the breakthrough, Ferguson caught behind by Henry Melville for10. Ahsan Malik in at his now-accustomed spot of number three. Steenbergen on 27* now, and Usman Malik on from the Pavilion End.

Botha returns, and promptly has Riaz caught by Walbrugh at extra cover as he attempts to thrash the first ball. Saqib Zulfiqar in at five, and Musa has now brought up his half-century.

Overdijk switches to the Railway End, and strikes immediately, clipping the top of Kothari’s off stump with his first delivery. Niels Woermeijer in to join Numair.

One brings two, as Bangs drives uppishly at Van Wingerden and is caught by Arnav Jain at mid-off. Robert van der Harten in to join Jacod with Kampong faltering at the Hazelaarweg.

Smal and Cassidy have doubled VRA’s total, and Niels Etman is on from the City End to try to separate them. A very important stand this for VRA.

Young Elmar Boendermaker gets that breakthrough, as Minhas on 52 drives in the air to mid-off and Botha takes the catch. Mohsin Riaz joins Musa, now on 32*.

A steady start from Steenbergen and Ferguson, the former rather more aggressive at this point.

Oliver White into the attack, and his first ball traps Braat in front for 24. Then Floyd removes Dewald Dumon LBW as well, and Hermes are in deep trouble. Roy Numair in to join Kothari.

Van Wingerden, though, has other ideas, and he slides one past Ingram’s forward defensive, bowling him for 19. Pierre Jacod in to join Bangs.

Another one gone at Thurlede: Gouge, down on one knee slog-sweeping at Naqvi, is trapped in front and departs for 12. Jack Cassidy in to join Smal, and they’ve taken the attack to Naqvi, Kroesen and Sam Rahaley, Cassidy hitting three fours in his run-a-ball 20*.

Fifty for Minhas, who has shown his feelings about the attack by donning a cap in place of a helmet. HBS now in serious need of a breakthrough.

Tom de Leede takes the first over from the Pavilion End, bowling to Jochem Steenbergen and Sam Ferguson. Mees van Vliet from the Paddock End.

Leijer does Elenbaas, bowled for 5, bringing Sahil Kothari in to join Braat. They’ve started the recovery process, Floyd into the attack for HCC now, as Brown returns from the Pavilion End.

Roman Harhangi has replaced Aaditt Jain from the Airport End, but Bangs and Ingram are still there, on 21* and 18* respectively. They’ve doubled the score so far, but Kampong need a lot more from them.

A 12:30 start as it turns out, the match reduced to 47 overs after the ground took 20 mm. of rain in the past 24 hours. Sparta have won the toss and elected to bat.

I really shouldn’t do that. First, Peiris goes looking for a single to point off Blankestijn, gets halfway down before he’s sent back, and has no chance of beating Karson Edward’s return to Verhagen. Then, with spots of rain falling, Scully clips Ralston off his toes and is caught by Edward at square leg. Patrick Gouge and Smal are together now, the rain having come to nothing so far. Joost Kroesen on from the City End.

This partnership is beginning to look quite menacing for HBS now, as Minhas reaches 31* and Musa 16*. No indecent haste, but it’s a solid platform as they take a drink at the Zomercomplex.

And another: Overdijk bowls full to Jamil, who can only spear the ball out to cover point, where Oliver White does the rest. Sebastiaan Braat the new man.

Teun Leijer claims the crucial wicket of Doyle, falling to a very, very fine catch by keeper Mark Wolfe, diving to his right, and departing for 31. Olivier Elenbaas in at five.

Rebuilding the order of the day for Bangs and Ingram as the brothers Jain continue. Now, though, De Kok turns to Siebe van Wingerden, on from the Pavilion End.

Excelsior probing for a breakthrough, Scully and Peiris looking comfortable enough against Ralston and Jens Blankestijn.

Minhas and Musa making steady progress against Botha and De Beer, and Walbrugh turns to De Mey from the Equestrian Centre End.

Brown does Ostling with a full delivery which traps him in front, bringing in Nick Statham to join Doyle. He, however, doesn’t last long, steering a lifting delivery from Hidde Overdijk head-high to Crowley at second slip. Mussayab Jamil the new man.

And that makes three: Berry (who for some reason wears the playing number 316), gets an outside edge as well, caught at slip by Pieter Recordon. Three for 22 for Aaditt, and Kampong in real trouble as Lorenzo Ingram joins Bangs.

Another for Aaditt: Van den Berg edges through to Monty Singh, who’s keeping today, and goes for 22. Lachlan Bangs joins Berry, with Kampong showing some early fragility.

They’ve made a start at Thurlede, Jason Ralston bowling from the Chalet End to Luke Scully, with Sachin Peiris the non-striker. Scully off the mark with a push into the covers, left-hander Peiris defends the rest of the over.

Sellin de Beer replaces Rossouw, and his first delivery catches the edge of Shinwari’s bat, Julien de Mey taking a fine catch low to his left at slip. Shinwari goes for 24, Musa Ahmad in at three.

Ostling and Doyle prospering against Brown and Crowley, Doyle on the attack as usual, his partner a little more circumspect.

An early wicket at the Hazelaarweg: Karel Vieler, opening in place of Max O’Dowd, hits a four and is then bowled by Aaditt Jain. Lane Berry joins Daniel van den Berg, who has gone off as usual at a rate of knots. He’s struck four boundaries in reaching 21* off 14 deliveries.

A brisk start by Fawad Shinwari, opening in place of Vandiar today, and Shoaib Minhas against Lehan Botha and Jayden Rossouw, Minhas lofting the final ball of Rossouw’s second effortlessly over midwicket for six.

Josh Brown starts from the Railway End, and after Ash Ostling gets off the mark with a single Daniel Doyle picks up where he left off on Saturday, slashing him over point for four. Daniel Crowley to bowl the second from the Pavilion End.

Johan Smal has called correctly too, and has taken the batting route.

Tayo Walbrugh has also won the toss, but he’s elected to have a bowl.

Alex Roy has called correctly at the Hazelaarweg, and Kampong will have a bat.

The rain has taken a toll at Westvliet as well, we’re learning – they’re hoping for a 12 o’clock start, it seems.

Johan Smal has called correctly too, and has taken the batting route.

Sebastiaan Braat has won the toss for Hermes at the Loopuyt Oval and elected to have a bat.