Topklasse Live | Round 11 | As it Happened

Leijer makes to cut, and misses. He belts the next one out to midwicket, they take one, come back for the second, and Leijer’s beaten by the return from Braat (who else), Rushmere demolishes the stumps, and sets off on a victory dash as Hermes win by 6 runs. Sensational stuff!

A drive, somewhat off the edge, to midwicket for a couple. Then Gorlee strikes Jamil back over his head, and is caught by Olivier Elenbaas at long on for 30. Really, you could not make this up! Teun Leijer the last man.

Vrolijk swings his first ball into the hands of square leg. . . but no! he’s struck his own wicket in making the shot, and departs hit wicket. Trijzelaar the new man, with Gorlee facing Jamil as the final over begins.

Kothari to Gorlee, dot, then a single into the covers. Wide outside off to Crowley, driven into the covers for another. Gorlee pulls the next through midwicket; another single. Big swing by Crowley, and he’s bowled! Nine needed from seven deliveries as Thijs Vrolijk joins Gorlee.

A single apiece off it, and then Jamil concedes just three, Crowley surviving a big shout for leg-before as he sweeps and misses. 12 required off two.

Five come off Jamil’s next, and then Crowley eases the pressure by driving Ralph Elenbaas square for four. 17 needed off four. Dutt to bowl.

Another wicket for Kothari, as Brown slog-sweeps him straight to Dutt at deep midwicket and departs for 16. Crowley in to join Gorlee. Could this one be going down to the wire as well? 32 needed off six.

Abid bowls the penultimate over, and after driving him square for a couple, O’Dowd tries to hit a seventh six and holes out to Smal at deep mid-on. Zalpuri in to join debutant Dhawan, and they manage to add a handful of runs from Shariz’s last over. But VRA win by 36 runs.

In the Bos, O’Dowd has swung his way to 134*, but he’s lost Sharma for a duck and Robert van der Harten for 8, both falling to Shariz Ahmad, and Kampong need an improbable 46 from the last two overs.

Apologies to fans of the other four teams, but those two games demanded full attention. Meanwhile, Ralph Elenbaas has bowled Worden for 10 at the BHO, and Yash Patel was trapped in fron by Mussayab Jamil for 5. Brown now in with Gorlee, and 43 are required from eight overs.

Van der Meulen bowls the last, and from the first ball Del Bianco is caught by Hoseinbaks. Kyle Klein in, and takes a single. One to Goedeke, two required from three deliveries. Another for Klein to level the scores, and then Goedeke, fittingly, hits the winning boundary as HBS win by five wickets.

A single takes Goedeke to his century, then Del Bianco strikes a four. 11 come from the over, whoever bowled it, and now the equation’s four from six. Goedeke 103*, Del Bianco 66*.

Pretty tense at the Hazelaaaweg as well, with HBS needing 15 off the last two overs and Goedeke on 99*. According to the live score, Harhangi is bowling his eleventh over. Shome mishtake, shurely?

Glover smacks his first ball (and Shafiq’s last) for six to level the scores. Musa bowls the last: dot, then Mumba takes the catch to remove Croes for 58. Waseem Mohsen joins Glover with the scores still level. Another dot, then Mohsen gets the single which means that Voorburg win by three wickets. That can only be described as a pulsating game of cricket!

Croes, though, hits Musa for six, then takes back-to-back boundaries off Shafiq. Suddenly it’s eight off ten. A single to Croes, Dot to Rippon, then Shafiq takes a return catch, and it’s seven off seven Don Glover in to join Croes..

That might well be it: Klein, having hit 39 off 26, is caught by Niazi off Musa. 24 required from 15 deliveries as Rippon joins Croes, who has 42* from 31.

33 off five, Goedeke 90*, Del Bianco 51*. Van der Meulen has two overs left, Harhangi one. .

Kothari sneaks one past Staal and bowls him for 6; that’s the one Hermes really wanted, but it brings Zac Worden in to join Kloppenburg. Who’s bowled by Ralph Elenbaas in the next over, and now it’s Worden and Gorlee who need to build on their side’s great start.

Sam Cassidy into the attack, and Ingram drives uppishly, caught by Smal for 20. O’Dowd on 80*, Tushar Sharma the new man, but VRA almost have the points in their pocket.

Six overs left, 55 needed, and Croes and Klein still there. Looks like we’re heading for another nail-biter, and Sikander still has lots of bowling options. Rotterdam still have the edge, I reckon.

With 51 required off eight and six wickets in hand, we’re getting into cruising territory. Goedeke 80*, Del Bianco 44*, and somehow VOC have to conjure a wicket or three. Ahsan Malik, notably, has only bowled two overs.

Banerjee, on 24, falls to a brilliant running, diving, rolling catch by Doyle, covering a lot of ground to his right from mid-off as Banerjee lofts Ralph Elenbaas back over his head but doesn’t get all of it. Teun Kloppenburg joins Staal, who’s on 59* from 44.

O’Dowd’s still there on 79*, Ingram on 15*, and Kampong need 121 from 13 overs. Nearly nine an over, but as long as O’Dowd is there they have a chance.

And Musa gets it, De Leede caught by a Zulfiqar for 54. And now Mumba strikes, Kaplan caught by the same Zulfiqar, or else the other one, for 130. Rotterdam suddenly back in the game, although Croes has made 22* from 11 deliveries as he’s joined by Ryan Klein.

You can’t quite say that HBS are cruising, but their cause is certainly helped by two fours for Del Bianco off a Montague over. With Goedeke on 65* and Del Bianco on 40*, VOC need to separate this pair soon if they are to get back into the game.

Staal continues on his merry way, twice cutting Olivier Elenbaas to the backward point boundary. He’s on 46* off 31, and the Lions are in the box seat as long as he’s there.

When Smal oversteps O’Dowd hammers the free hit over cow for six, moving to 71*. But Kampong will need many more boundaries it they’re to chase successfully; 135 off 17 is a big ask.

And they’re back, with Kaplan and De Leede carrying on where they left off. De Leede’s reached his fifty, and Kaplan is on 123*. The stand’s worth 171, and Rotterdam are badly in need of a breakthrough.

Caleb Montague, who has kept wicket until today, is now turning his arm over, without success so far. A half-century for Goedeke, who’s now on 53*, Del Bianco on 27*.

They’re back in bright sunshine at the BHO, with HCC chasing a revised target of 182 from 34 overs. Braat switches to the Pavilion End, but 10 come from his over as the Lions drive home their advantage.

Fifty for Jacod as well, and the stand’s now up to 93. But that’ll be it, because as I write those words Jacod, on 57, reverse-sweeps Abhinay into the hands of Abid at backward point. Lorenzo Ingram in to join O’Dowd, who’s on 58*. Game in the balance, but distinctly advantage VRA.

They have indeed been off for an hour or so at the ironically-named Zomercomplex, with Voorburg currently ahead on DLS. But the rain has passed, and it looks as if they’ll get back on.

A brief interruption in Schiebroek as well, as Goedeke and Del Bianco resume their pursuit of VOC’s total. Goedeke on 40*, but the Crows need 122 off 22.

A half-century for O’Dowd, who’s now on 52* as they take a drink in the Bos.

Which may imply that they’re also off at the Zomercomplex, although given their technical difficulties it’s hard to be sure, as it is too about the current score.

The rain has reached the Hazelaarweg, with VOC, I suspect, currently well ahead on DLS.

Play has resumed after a brief pause, with O’Dowd now on 47* and Jacod on 40*. But nearly half the overs have gone, and Kampong need 186 off 26.

The umpires have taken the players off the field in the Amsterdamse Bos, although the sun is still shining there. That said, I can hear rumbles of thunder here on the other side of Amstelveen, so it may be a wise precaution.

They’re still off the field in Schiedam, with overs presumably coming off and DLS presumably working to HCC’s advantage.

The flow of information from the Zomercomplex has slowed to a trickle, but when last heard of Kaplan and De Leede were still together, Voorburg needing 135 off about 17 overs.

Khan finallhy goes, trapped in front by Price for 23, bringing Lucas del Bianco in to join Goedeke. VOC well on top now.

Nashier switches to Mulder’s End, having been replaced at the City End by Ashir Abid. O’Dowd and Jacod steadily rebuilding the Kampong innings after those three early wickets. A maiden from Abid ensures that the pressure stays on.

Van der Meulen strikes again, Botha caught behind by Shaikh, also for 14. Goedeke in now with Khan, who’s on a patient 21*.

And I’m sorry to have to tell you that they’re off for rain in Schiedam. An isolated, nasty little shower which looks to be heading towards Amsterdam as well, although it may leave Rotterdam untouched.

One brings two in the Bos, Vieler bowling swinging across the line at Hake, and three balls later Edwards chases a wide one and edges to Cassidy, standing up. O’Dowd on 23*, joined now by Jacod.

Price into the attack for VOC, but his first over yields nine, a much-needed acceleration for HBS. They started needing a tad over five an over, and that keeps them in touch with the rate,

An 85-ball century for Gavin Kaplan, reached with a boundary off Tariq, and with the partnership up to 140, things are starting to look serious for Rotterdam. It’s the need of a breakthrough, it’s the pace at which Voorburg are scoring now. Kaplan 104*, De Leede 42*.

They’re back out at the Boudewijn Hoek Oval, Dutt bowling the first over from the Pavilion End to Tonny Staal; Banerjee the non-striker. Good to see Nick Statham at slip. Staal lofts the second delivery over mid-on for a couple, then slog-sweeps the fifth over square leg for four. Braat himself to bowl the second.

Hake again keeping it tight, Nashier a little less so, as O’Dowd dismisses him over extra cover for four.

Walbrugh’s miserable run continues, bowled by Van der Meulen for 14. Lehan Botha in at four, with 253 starting to look a long way off.

Kaplan goes past 50 and Voorburg are into three figures, beginning to go through the gears. Sulaiman Tariq into the attack, but Kaplan’s on 76* off 70 and looking distinctly dangerous.

O’Dowd and Vieler, too, circumspect against Hake and Nashier, at least until the former despatches the latter over midwicket for six. Kampong need a big innings from O’Dowd today.

A very steady start by HBS, although Walbrugh will be a little more settled after taking a boundary off Fletcher. Chasing 250-plus, the Crows, too, need a solid platform.

Kaplan on to 49* now at a run a ball, with De Leede on 14*. Voorburg dropping behind the rate somewhat, but it’s vital that they keep wickets in hand if they are to mount a serious challenge at the back end of their chase.

Nightmare start for Kampong: Van den Berg caught behind by Jack Cassidy off the first ball of the innings. Sharad Hake the bowler, coming in from Mulder’s End; Nashier from the other. Karel Vieler now batting with Max O’Dowd.

Harhangi has De Mey caught behind by Shaikh for 16. Walbrugh in to join Khan.

Turns out they’re still playing 50 overs in Schiedam – not sure how or why. With some shots which you’d expect to see at Roland Garros rather than Lord’s Ostling and Braat wrestle the score up past 200, Ostling gradually approaching a deserved hundred. But on 96 he find Banerjee on the boundary and has to depart. Braat hits a couple of fours off Crowley’s final over, but edges a mighty forehand smash to Patel of the final delivery and goes for 29. Hermes will be moderately happy with that total, considering the conditions at the start.

Kaplan and De Leede set about rebuilding the innings, but they have a very steep mountain to climb. Saqib Zulfiqar into the attack.

An exhausted Statham retires, and when Aryan Dutt tries to pull Crowley the ball goes straight up in the air, providing keeper Patel with an easy catch. Braat joins Ostling, who’s on 89*.

They’re back on at the Hazelaarweg, Julien de Mey and Azzam Khan facing Pierce Fletcher. Three off the first, Roman Harhangi to bowl the second.

Not sure how many overs they’re actually playing in Schiedam after the delayed start – 47? or maybe 48? At any event, the stand between Ostling and Statham has reached 100, with Ostling now on 87* and Statham on 30*. They need to throw caution to the winds here to get the total as close to 200 as they can.

An early breakthrough at the Zomercomplex: Michael Levitt bowled by Mumba for 8 with just 12 on the board. And as I write this, De Lange goes as well, caught by Mumba off Gondal for 20. Rotterdam firmly in charge as Bas de Leede joins Kaplan.

Bangs bowls the last, no boundaries but some hard running does force some misfields and misfortune. A wide outside off is bumled by the keeper,who recovers and throws down the stumps – direct hit but too late and they run a second (which I don’t think should be allowed but that’s a subject for another day). They scrape together 10 off the over in the end, and a sizeable total on the board at the break.

Ingram bowls his last from Mulder’s end, won’t give up a boundary either desptite some enterprising shotmaking from the home pair. He finishes with a tidy 0-27 from his ten. Zalpurni from the other end and first ball of the 49th Cassidy breaks out a quite extraordinary standing-reverse for six. He goes next ball though trying to repeat the shot and finding the man positioned on the rope for it, out for a run-a-ball 87. Abhinay joins Nashier, but the latter holes out three balls later. Hake joins Abhinay for the last.

Leijer, who gave up just 3 runs in his first four overs, returns to the attack and is taken for 12 by Ostling and Statham. Ostling moves into the 70s, but Hermes will need to make good use of the last 12 overs if they’re to get anything defensible on what looks to be an improving batting surface.

A fine knock from Zaidi comes to an end a a shortish widish ball from Bangs rather climbs on him, top edge falls to hand in the deep on the off side. He goes for 56, Nashier joins Cassidy, who’s on 75*. 250 up with four overs to come, Bangs has just the one left.

Hundred up for Hermes thanks to wide down leg from Brown beats everyone, Ostling has his fifty now though as he gets after Kloppenburg in the 33rd, four through extra, then pulled hard square for four more. Concerningly for the hosts, though, the wicket does indeed look to be flattening out.

Fifty for Zaidi here, driving a full ball from Bangs through the covers for a couple. Cassidy on 70* now. Ingram to bowl his penultimate over from the City end.

Malik loses another partner as Hoseinbaks is caught behind off Klein for 7, but takes VOC past the 250 mark in the final over with a boundary off van Oosterom. HBS certainly had the best of the back half of the innings, but Malik’s ensured he and his cohorts will have something solid to bowl at.

Zaidi down the track to Vieler, who tosses it wide but not wide enough and Ziadi gets it up and over the covers for four. Ingram back at the other end, .

VOC continue to stumble toward the 250-mark, Harhangi the next to go caught off Boddendijk for five. Hoseinbaks in with Malik now.

Elenbaas has been trying to break the shackles for a while, but there’s little on offer to hit. When he gets a bit of width from Kloppenberg he throws hands, only to bottom edge intot he stumps. Statham in.

Strong finish again from Rotterdam sees them sail past the 300-mark, Sikander Zulfiqar finishes with 86* off 70 rocks, Srivastava chips in 7 off 5, and Voorburg have a full strength batting card today – but 321 to win is a tall order indeed.

Back after yet another drinks break here at the Bos and Cassidy brings up a crucial half-century slog-sweeping Jacod over square for four, follows it up with a more conventionally sweep behind square for four more. VRA closing in on 200 with 11 overs to go.

Fourie goes, caught off Boddendijk for 12 and HBS have thoroughly spiked VOC’s guns now, 250 looks an ask now as Harhangi joins Malik.

Acceleration from Zulfiqar has wrested the momentum back in his side’s favour, and despite losing Niazi to de Lange for 21, he takes them past 300 for the sixth time this season with 2 overs to spare. He’s into the 70s now, Srivastrava with him for the last two.

It could. Goedeke gets the next as Price is caught by Navjit Singh for 40, then new man Shaikh falls to Boddendijk next over. Three wickets in four overs with just 8 runs added. Malik joins Fourie, VOC wobbling.

Hermes still crawling along, Ostling and Elenbaas have both advanced to double figure now. Kloppenburg into the attack and guided to the rope through third by Ostling, but aside from an expensive first over for him HCC have kept this pair very quiet indeed. The hosts will have to hope it doesn’t get any easier batting this afternoon, but the decision to bat first looks increasingly like a mis-step.

Islam brough back to replace Mohsen, and the change pays off immediately. Has Riaz caught for 90 first ball back, then next ball new man Mumba is run out by Bas de Leede. Niazi in and survives the team-hattrick ball. Voorburg showing some fight of a sudden.

Back after drinks and Karel Vieler I think that is coming into the attack, and finds the breakthrough, Shariz playing down the wrong line and losing his off bail. Ibad Zaidi in.

De Mey finds the wicket they wanted with the first ball of his last over, Montague goes caught Del Bianco for 78. Fourie on and blocks out the over, could this spark the collapse? Boddendijk replaces Klein.

Still slow going at Harga, Elenbaas and Ostling have seen sixty balls between them and they’re both still in single figures. Elenbaas finds a couple through the covers off Leijer, only the second scoring shot off him in four overs. Hosts going nowhere slow as we go to drinks.

HBS still on the hunt for that fourth wicket too, Montague into the 70s now, Price with him on 32*. Klein back, but no joy for him and he’s only got two overs left. De Mey still from the other end, and he’s bowled 8 already too. Could get tricky for HBS at the back end, this.

200 up for RCCin the 37th, Zulfiqar celebrates by taking glover for four more, and VCC looking a little short of ideas.

Ingram on at the City end now and keeping things tight, just ten runs off his seven so far. Bangs back from the Mulder end, and worries Cassidy with a short ball, coming through quick, but Cassidy’s ready next time he tries it and ramps him for four.

Scoring has slowed to an absolute crawl at Harga. Leijer’s come on and bowled two maidens on the bounce, Trijzelaar at the other end has given up just two.

Fifty for Riaz, and RCC looking back on track for another monster score. Van Vliet notably not been back since his one over, currently de Lange and Mohsen looking for the breakthrough.

Fifty for Montague meanwhile, Price still with him and the hosts have a more than solid base here. Wicket looks pretty flat it must be said though, De Mey and Goedeke in tandem now for the Crows.

Big wicket at Harga as Rushmere reaches for a wide one from Crowley and edges to second slip. Hermes may be regretting their decision to bat first now as Elenbaas joins Ostling.

Oh. May have jinxed that. Nidamanuru is across his stumps to Jacod next over looking to manufacture a leg glance and is bowled behind his legs. Jack Cassidy in at six.

Dragged a shade short by Zalpuri and Shariz is quickly onto it, pulled high over square for six. Some good running between the wickets from this pair too, the outfield not as quick as usual but thry’re finding twos and threes. Closing in on three figures now.

Runs beginning to come at Harga as Rushmere glances Brown fine for four then drives staright for a hard-run three. Doyle-Calle picks up his first boundary rather fortuitously slicing an attempted pull up over third for four, but Rushmere looks in good touch as he whips Crowley through midwicket two balls later. The wicket falls next over though, as DDC misses a straight one from Brown and is bowled for 10. Ostling in.

Drinks here at the Bos with the visitors on top after the early exchanges. Ahmad on 9*, Nidamanuru on 16* but the hosts do need a partnership here. Stand-in skipper Jacod has borught himself on. His bowling options somewhat depleted in the absence of Alex Roy.

Hundred up for VOC meanwhile, but they’ve lost their skipper. De Mey into the attack and removes van der Meulen with his second ballk, LBW for 20. Montague still there on 32*. Price with him now.

Zulfiqar and Riaz have not been daunted by the loss of the top order, a brisk half-cenutry stand between them already with Riaz going at a run-a-ball and Saqib considerable quicker. Rippon and Glover at the moment trying to stem the flow, and as I type Rippon finds the breakthorugh, Saqib pinned LBW for 32, to be replaced by Sikander.

And they’re underway at Harga, Rushmere and DDC opening for Hermes today, Crowley and Brown share the new ball. Quiet start so far with Rushmere on a watchful 1* off 11 and Doyle having defended the onyl ball he’s faced.

Zalpuri into the attack here, treated to a textbook cover-drive by Smal through the covers to the rope, three balls later induces a semi-controlled edge just wide of the leaping Ingram at slip. Ingram still from the other end, maiden from him to Nidamanuru for the tenth. Zalpuni continues, and gets one to jag back into Smal and takes the off pole, big wicket that with Smal looking dangerous. Shariz Ahmad at four.

Another for van Oosterom, Kooistra bowled for 19. Van der Meulen joins Montague, who’s on 15*.

Van Vliet into the attack, and very errant from him again at first, five wides in the over but gets the wicket of Gondal, caugh Levitt for a run-a-ball 30. Riaz in to join Minhas, but the partnership last just two balls as Minhas is bowled by mohsen for 40 first ball of the 15th. Saqib Zulfiqar in.

Tough introduction to the Topklasse for Dhawan as his first goes for 15, he’s whipped out of the attack and Ingram on early for some left arm spin. Tidy enough, but it’s bangs with the wicket again, does Padda for pace and bounce, top-edged pull falls to van den Burg with the gloves. Wicket maiden. Nidamanuru in.

Word from Harga is that HCC have won the toss and will bowl first, looking at a 12.15 start. Edit: Scratch that, we gather Hermes in fact won the toss and elected to bat first.

Fifty up for VOC too, Been a bit ragged from the HBS new ball bowlers, 12 extras already. Looks like Boddendijk warming up now.

Minhas and Gondal have recovered well for the hosts after the early wicket, fifty up for RCC in the tenth. Mohsen and Glover operating now for VCC

Sam Cassidy and Padda opening for VRA, Bags takes the new ball. “If this balls a wicket I’m having a beer” remarks a ragged looking CR next to me. To his horror and that of the home fans the first ball is full and straight, Cassidy rather falls over it and struckin front, up goes the finger. Smal at three and off the mark brushing one to leg, Padda opens his account with a four through point. The 15 year old Vivaan Dhawan share the new ball.

Butt first to fall after a brisk fifteen, expansive but uppish drive off van Oosterom up over the covers but held in the deep. Kooistra yet to score at the other end, though he’s only seen two balls. Montague joins him now.

First down at the Zomercomplex, Musa Ahmad caught off de Lange for 1. Gondal at three.

VRA win the toss here and elect to bat first, we’re told. Starting at 11.30 we reckon.

Maiden from Islam on Musa Ahmad to start, Cedric de Lange shares the new ball and his first delivery is put over the rope by Minhas.

And we’re underway at Hazelaarweg, Kyle Klein takes the new ball for the Crows, Kooistra and Butt opening for VOC. Butt off the mark fourth ball clipping a single to leg, wide down leg a couple of balls later, nothing else off the bat. Van Oosterom from the other end.

And a timely start at the Zomercomplex, where Voorburg have won the toss and inserted the hosts.

All good to go at Hazelaarweg though, where we’ve had a toss which HBS have won and elected to bowl first.

Wet patch on the pitch at Harga we hear, but they’re hopeful of starting by noon.

A few wet patches on the square to contend with here at the Bos, they’ll have a look in half an hour. Generally optimistic vibes here though.