Topklasse Live | Round 12 | As it Happened

Big swing, straight up, Fletcher backs himself to take it and waves off Cassidy. Held. Jabarkhail last man. Three dots all but closes it, they run a bye to the keeper but it’s all but over. Swing and a miss, miscued out to the on side for one and VRA win by 7 runs.

Seven off it, chanceless really. So down to the wire. Fletcher to bowl the last it seems with nine runs to defend. Braat facing.

Braat puts Ruffel hard and straight back past him to the rope and low into the sight screen, keeps Hermes on track. 17 to win from the last two. Shariz from the city end.

Braat puts a wide on from Ruffel away over long off for four, but Kothari falls first ball of the next, spectacular catch from Smal at deep midwicket as Kothari doesn’t get enough of a slog-sweep off Shariz. Numair in. 26 needed off the last three.

Kothari taking charge of the chase, hits turmaine for a straight one bouncer over his head, then next over puts Nidamanuru away over long on. But Elenbaas falls run out to a sharp bit of fielding now, lazered throw, swift take, dust clous and everything. Very dramatic. Braat in.

And finds reward. In the slot really and Jamil heaves it into the on side, but Shariz is there onj the rope. Gone for 15. Kothari in.

Elenbaas still believes, drives Ruffel uppishly wide of extra how can’t quite get to what looked a half chance, four more. Run down just wide enough of deep third for two, Hermes reasserting themselves in this chase. Nine to come, just under a run-a-ball neeeded. Nidamanuru brings himself back on.

Both opening bowlers back now, and Ruffel gets the wicket they wanted. Leading edge and caught cover by Shariz coming in from cover point. Jamil in.

Elenbaas gets after Turmaine, too short and put away over leg. Nidamanuru senses the need for change it seems, takes himself off to bring Fletcher back.

Elenbaas gets after Turmaine, too short and put away over leg. Nidamanuru senses the need for change it seems, takes himself off to bring Fletcher back.

Offspin at both ends now, Turmaine and Nidamanuru. Asad Zulfiqar assuming the role of senior partner as he sweeps the former authoritatively behind square for four. He’s on 35*, match in the balance and a lot on his shoulders as they go to drinks.

But not for long. Shariz has him LBW next over. He’s not happy. Elenbaas in.

And Nidamanuru finally finds reward for his self-belief. Finds Ostling’s leading edge and it baloons up toward Shariz at midwicket, who rolls back to take the catch. Dutt in.

Ostling makes good use of the crease, backing up and turning a length ball from Turmaine into a longish hop and slapping it over extra for a couple to bring up his half century. Nidamanuru, full of Scottish self-confidence, continues from the Mulders end. And should have had Zulfiqar there, down the track and a wild swing skews off a leading edge toward Fletcher at mid off, who shells a dolly.

Nidanamuru brings himself on, big shout for LBW on Ostling second ball but looked outside the line, then two balls later big top edge on the slog-sweep falls just out of reach of three converging fielders. Nidamanuru looking nonplussed. Turmaine on from the other end.

A brief stint at the crease to mark the milestone for Statham, who’s trapped LBW by Shariz in the next over. Zulfiqar at four.

Against the run of play, as they say, but an absolutely huge wicket falls as DDC misses a dead straight half-volley from Singh and is castled. He goes for 43, and the complexion of the game changes. Nick Statham to the crease.

Double change then as Shariz takes over from Ruffel. Doyle runs him down to deep third for a hard run three second ball, and a couple of singles. Singh still from the other end, Ostling scoops him for four first ball, tidy for the rest.

First change as Singh comes on from the Mulder End, Ostling brings up the fifty punching through cover for one, couple more for Doyla off the last ball to move to a 30-ball 30*. Hermes look very much in control at the minute. Sun’s out too.

Just looking a bit too easy for the Hermes openers at the minute as Doyle takes Ruffel inside out over cover for four. VRA persisting with their opening bowlers for now though, Fletcher to continue.

And we’re back. Ruffel opening the bowling, two dots to start but then a bit of width and Ostling cuts him away for four. The Netherlands’ latest international Ben Fletcher shares the new ball, struggling a bit with his radar – wides outside off and down leg in the over, but threatening the edge when he gets it right. Beats both Ostiling and Doyle-Calle in the over. Plenty happening.

Thakur’s been quietly accumulating runs a a brisk pace, now cashes in on a full toss from Jabarkhail first ball of the final over, and four over midwicket. Gone next ball though, cleaned upswinging over a straight one. Turmaine in for the last few, some hard scrabble running and now commendably runs himself out on the off chance of picking up an unlikely second on the last ball. 250 on the nose for the hosts then.

Thakur picks up four off Dutt getting down to scoop directly back over his head, fine leg and third both up so four all day. And three wides now in the same direction, but Hermes strike back at the end of the over as they push a tight two but Shariz loses his grip on the bat as he slides it in, gone for a crucial 47. Ruffel in at nine.

Collapse continues as Zaidi loses his off stump to Jabarkhail. Thakur in. Six overs to go and VRA still look well shy of a defensible score. Shariz still there on 37 off 54, but not a whole lot of batting to come. Jamil returns from the City end.

Gouge doesn’t last, forward to Jabarkhail defending but into the front pad, maybe some bat involved? Not bat first at least according to the umpire. Zaidi at seven and VRA, having fought hard to put together a platform, now risk running out of bats to exploit it.

Elenbaas back after drinks, his seventh over bookended by fours for Cassidy, both pulled hard in front of square. Cassidy into the 80s now. But Dutt now from the City end puts an end to a fine innings, a miscued drive floats into the hands of mid off. He goes for 82, Gouge at six.

Jabarkhail coming in for some tap now, not helped much by his short fine leg it must be said as he’s swept repeatedly to the rope, twice entirely through the as-yet unidentified fielder. Cassidy on 68* now, Ahmad on 20* at drinks.

Jabarkhail absolutely convinced he’s got Shariz Ahmad caught down the leg side there, but Shariz is tapping his thigh pad and the umpire seems to agree with him. Numair back from Mulder’s End and driven handsomely through extra for four by Cassidy second ball then taken over midwicket for four by Shariz a couple of balls later.

It is indeed Oli Elenbaas, who strikes with his third ball to remove the VRA skipper, driving without due care and attention, caught behind for 6. Shariz Ahmad at five.

Jabarkhail into the attack from the city end, and almost has a wicket with his second ball, Cassidy forward on the drive, doesn’t get to the pitch of it and an outside edge loops up for Braat diving forward from slip, gets one hand upder it but can’t hold on. Looks like Elenbaas to take over from Kothari at Mulder’s End.

Scratch that, it’s Jamil taking over from Mulder’s end. Smal plays out a couple of dots and then gets a juicy half tracker that sits up on leg, and duly sends it a good way back over the backward square boundary. Dutt from the City end instead, and they milk a smattering of singles off him. Braat swaps out Jamil for Kothari, Smal picks up four off him with a neat little paddle sweep fine third ball, but Kothari strikes back with the next, draws him forward and finds the outside edge, through to Zulfiqar’s gloves. Nidamanuru at four.

And we’re back! Umpires lead the teams back out, rain holding off for now. Dutt to coninue from Mulders’ end, Smal facing.

Brightened up appreciably out there, covers coming off and the umpires are having a look. We’re just skating the edge of a band of rain that’s currently passing the the East it would seem, though the radar reckons we may get another shower in a half-hour or so. Might be time for a few overs before then, and looks to be clear from about 2pm onwards.

Another Kothari over, and then the umpires have to call for the covers as a shower passes over. It’s not likely to amount to much, if the radar’s not a liar.

Sahil Kothari on from the City End, double change with Dutt on from the other. Cassidy and Smal pick up a series of ones and twos, and then Smal stands up tall, very tall inhis case, forcing Dutt through the covers for four. A moment of good fortune for Cassidy, an edge off Dutt eluding keeper and slip Braat and running to the boundary. He’s on 33* now, Smal on 16*.

Numair and Jamil continue, Numair letting one go down the leg side which beats keeper Zulfiqar and runs to the boundary. It’s given as five wides, although Hermes are convinced there was a deflection. Lots of head-shaking for the rest of the over. Fifty’s up, and with that they take a drink.

Singh’s having some difficulty middling the ball, but then he unleashes an absolutely classic square drive, perfectly timed for four. Sebastiaan Braat replaces Elenbaas, bowls two deliveries, and then clutches his left hamstring. He has a couple of tries at bowling another, but it’s no good – he has to hand the ball to Mussayab Jamil to finish the over, That’s terrible news for Hermes, although Braat stays on the field, fielding at slip. Singh hits Jamil into the covers for a couple, and then leans back, driving into the covers again – and he’s caught by Numair. He can’t believe it, but there you go. And go he does, for 16, succeeded by Johan Smal.

A Numair maiden pulls it back for Hermes, and the only scoring shot of the next Elenbaas over is another off-drive by Singh which goes all the way. And another maiden by Numair, who’s a very difficult man to get away.

Cassidy pushes Numair to midwicket to get off the mark, then, when Elenbaas drops a tad short, pulls him to the square lef boundary. The next one overcompensates, wide outside off, and Cassidy dabs to third man for four more. A single off a no-ball brings Singh on strike, and he plays through mid-off for another boundary. Expensive over, that.

Olivier Elenbaas takes the first over from the City End, bowling in the first instance to Vikram Singh. Jack Cassidy his opening partner. Tidy start, keeping Singh in defensive mode. Roy Numair from Mulder’s End.

And indeed, Teja Nidamanuru won the toss and elected to bat.

No actual news of the toss yet, but it looks very much as if VRA will be batting.

It looks as if both sides are back at full strength: Aryan Dutt returns for Hermes, and Nidamanuru, Singh and Fletcher, as well as Shariz Ahmad, for VRA.

Just three singles off the 48th, but Hampton back for the next and first ball Recordon finds a hard run two into space behind square. Inside edge off a big swing next ball jjust evades the gloves and they steal one. then another, then Recordon gives his wicket away looking for glory. runs allt the way across his stumps looking to flick over fine and is clean bowled. Odd shot in the circumstances. Schoonheim in and miscues a single to long on. Singh on strike, walks down the wicket, goes hard and high over point and it carries al the way for six and the win. He finishes unbeaten on 64* off 78 as VOC win by 4 wickets

Singh loses another partner as Jain runs himself out to get him on strike with a nonsense single to mid on. Recordon in and after a couple of dots Singh contributes another lofted drive for four to the total. VOC still on target for now. Ralston finishes with 2-44 from his ten, VOC need just 12 runs now. Rahaley from the other end.

The end has arrived at Westvleit, Malik and van Vliet get them past 200, but not much further. Malik the last to go holing out at deep square off Brown as HCC win by 85 runs.

Fifty for Singh, pushing Rahaley out through point off the back foot. VOC just need to hold their nerve now you’d think, less than fives needed from the last four overs, Ralston only has one left...

The end is nigh at Westvleit, Boissevain gone now top-edging a slog sweep off Brown. Van Vliet the last man.

Excelsior not rolling over just yet. Ralston back and is handomely driven up over long on for four more by van der Meulen, but next ball cleans him up for a 26-ball 29. Singh still there on 45*, joined now by Arnav Jain.

A fourth for Floyd! Kelin gone now, prodding a low return catch back and Floyd dives forward to gather. Usman Malik in.

Verhagen into his sixth over now, he’s been tidy for the most part but his bad balls have been very bad – two full tosses each put away for six. VOC look like walking it in at this point.

And a third for Floyd, Nashier bowled for a five ball duck. Boissevain in after drinks.

Van der Meulen quickly counter-attacks, Singh runs Naqvi down fine of third for four and then gets off strike, before van der Meulen produces the shot of the day – a lofted checked drive through cover that somehow flies all the way for six.

And another for Floyd, de Leede well caught down the leg side by Wolfe and Voorburg on the slide now. Nashier joins Klein.

Belated breakthrough at Thurlede, and it’s the one they wanted. Jannet looked nailed-on for a ton all day but now offers a leading edge to midwicket trying to turn Naqvi to leg, and gone for 91. Van der Meulen in at five, VOC still well placed but the hosts perhaps just seeing a way back in here.

A first of the day for Floyd and Melville drives uppishly toward extra where White takes a fine catch diving forward. Tom de Leede to the crease, and advantage HCC.

Andnot too much time at that. Haider caught off Bangs in the next over, then Shahzad run out by Ingram the one afte that. Kampong win by 78 runs.

And Niaz gone too now, leading edge off Roy held by Ingram at extra and gone for 35. Just a matter of time now you’d think..

And Roel Verhagen elects to roll his arm over for the first time this season, tidy enough over of left arm slow from him, but his side need another wicket. Ralston back from the other end.

Huge wicket at the ‘Plex as Riaz finally falls, caught on the cover boundary off Ingram. Shahzad in to join Niaz, who’s on 33* off 44.

Jannet and Singh still together for VOC meanwhile, the former 75*, the latter on 15*. Niels Etman into the attack.

Voorburg lose their fourth as Croes cuts Brown into the hands of point, Ryan Klein and Melville now, Voorburg not quite half-way at the half-way stage.

Fifty for Riaz clipping Roy off his pads for a couple, Niaz still with him on 32*. target less tha 100 away now. Kampong are gonna have to break this stand in the not-too distant.

And it’s an incongruously careful conclusion to the chase, as Malik and Singh eke out a single from the next de Mey over, before finishing things off in the 29th, Malik lifting a Botha bouncer past the keeper and it runs away to the rope as Sparta win by 4 wickets.

another consolation wicket for Botah meanwhile as Scheepers underedges a cut through to the keeper, Botha half-celebrates, perhaps in jest. He now has 3-69 in 8. Manminder Singh in with three runs to get.

Riaz and Niaz threatening to drag Punjab kicking and screaming back into this match meanwhile, half century stand for the 7th wicket and Kampong just beginning to sweat.

A fine century stand between Jannet and Oberholzer is brough to an end meanwhile, Gijs Kroesen follows up two wides down leg with a over-correction, Oberholzer gives chase but can only drag it back onto his stumps. He goes for 45, Jannet, still there on 62*., is joined by Monty Singh

Another down at Westvliet. Teun Leijer back in town and into the attack, de Lange looks for a quick single bunting into the off side but the point fielder’s on it in a flash and a direcxt hit at the non striker’s sees him gone for 37. Melville joins Croes.

Sparta have shown no signs of slowing down, though Bothat at least will have the consolation of a wicket after what’s been a tough day at the office for him. Boorer falls to a top-edged pull for a 73-ball 87, as Scheepers comes to the crease. And it’s London buses for Botha as Ahmadi perishes in like fashion three balls later for a 20-ball 39. Ahsan Malik in. 16 to get off 27 overs with 5 in hand. Barresi from the opther end.

Riaz appears to have concluded that the time for consolidation has passed. Having started his innings with some 15 dots, he’s suddenly on 38 off 44. Niaz likewise playing positively as Punjab pass three figures. Long way to go though.

A big wicket’s fallen at Westvliet meanwhile, Kaplan gets in a big stride as he’s struck on the pad by White, but not big enough for the umpire who unhestitatingly raises the finger. Croes in with de Lange now, the latter into the 30s.

Signs of acceleration now from the previously sedate Jannet and Oberholzer too, the former takes two boundaries off Naqvi, the latter two off Kroesen, including an absolutely savage flat six pulled square off a Kroesen drag-down. Naqvi looks a bit rattled, opens the 17th with two wides, and VOC are in the unfamiliar position of being on top of a chase.

Sparta still sprinting toward the finish meanwhile as Boorer accelerates past fifty, Takes two boundaries off de Beer in the 20th as the hosts cruise past the 150-mark. Long discussion in the field now, heads shaking, hands on hips…

Riaz and Godal’s rearguard was just beginning to pay dividends when Gopinath broke the stand, Gondal caught behinf dfor 10. Punjab back on the back foot as Sikander Zulfiqar comes out the the middle. And setback turns to slump again as the skipper plays out a few dots, and duly departs for a duck. Niaz joins Riaz and Punjab are in a deep, deep hole now.

The ever-productive partnership of de Lange and Kaplan continues to deliver for VCC meanwhile, De Lange content with the junior role as usual has accumulated 19* off 26, while Kaplan’s 39* has come at better than a run a ball. Does look nice to bat out there. Floyd into the attack.

Meanwhile at a comparatively normal game of cricket, Jannet and Oberholzer have taken VOC carefully past fifty at Thurlede. Naqvi into the attack.

Consolidation is extremely not the plan. Ahmadi is going hard after Rossouw, thick edge flies for four behind the wicket, connects with the next two though sending the ball a long way back over midwicket both times, then hacks a wide full toss back over the bowler’s head for four more. Another wild mow last ball sends a top edge over the rope. 27 off the over. Sparta intent on keeping the Crows on the back foot it seems, and for now it’s very much working.

Consolidation very much the plan for Punjab though, where Riaz has now faced 16 balls without scoring, Gondal on a comparatively brisk 7* off 17. Still Kumar and Roy bowling.

Rossouw has his revenge at Bermweg though, Klesse steps across looking to take him for six over midwicket but finds the man in the deep. Ahmadi in next, which suggests consolidation is not the plan.

Overdijk has continued to be expensive despite bagging the early wicket, and is replaced by Brown, but Kaplan immediately punches him through the covers for four more.

Extended delay in the ninth for some reason, fussing over the ball perhaps? Oberholzer and Jannet have recovered slowly but steadily since the loss of their captain. Still Ralston and Hampton for the hosts.

No shortage of #intent from Sparta today as Klesse savagely lashes Rosouw behind point for a hard run three, then a couple of balls later takes him inside-out for six over cover. The hosts seem to want this done quick, closing in on three figures as they take an early drink.

Punjab in sudden shambles as the in-form Musa Ahmad is caught off Kumar for 17, then Saqib Zulfiqar comes out, bats out three dots and then is caught behind. Gondal in.

They’re back out there at Westvliet too, Cedric de Lange for the hosts with now-customary opening partner Carl Mumba. The latter takes two boundaries off a rather wild opening over from Hidde Overdijk before edging to gully off the seventh delivery. Kaplan at three.

An oddly tame end to Ferguson’s buccaneering innings, pops a leading edge up into the off side trying to work de Mey to leg and gone for 39. Klesse joins Boorer.

Musa Ahmad continuing where he left off last week it seems, onto a brisk 17* already at better than a run-a-ball. Minhas less fluent at the other end, but still there, oh wait no he’s not. Bats out four dots to Roy before offering a return chance that the Kampong skipper gratefully recieves. Riaz at four.

De Kok survives an insistent appeal for caught behind off Ralston first ball of the third, but no such luck two balls later. The VOC captain looks somewhat nonplussed at the decision but he’ll have to go. Oberholzer at three and Ralston bowling with real pace now. Attempts the bumper last ball but Oberholzer’s equal to it, pulled away in front of square for a cheeky three.

Ferguson is enjoying facing Botha it seems. Brings up the fifty for Sparta with a pose-holding lofted straight drive for four, then a couple of balls later repeats the shot, lofted even further for six. Offered width next ball, throws his hands through it and picks up yet another six over point. He’s raced to 39 off 23, Sparta flying.

Back in action at Thurlede, Jannet and de Kok opening for VOC, Ralston takes the new ball. Just the one run off his first, a single to third off a thick outside edge. And for into the attack for the first time this season, it will be Brett Hampton sharing the new ball.

Six more for Ferguson, full and wide from Botha and does well to get under it, slashed hard over point all the way over the rope. Runs coming quick despite the early wicket.

Back underway at the ‘ Plex, and an early wicket there too as Shinwari is caught by Jacod off Nana’s fourth ball. Musa Ahmad joins Minhas.

And they’re back on already at Bermweg, where Ferguson gets things going putting an overpitched second ball from Botha over long off for six. Three balls later it’s short and wide, cut up over backward point for six more. Positive start for the Spartans. Next over Steenbergen puts a Barresi full toss away for four over midwicket, but loses his off stump on the sweep three balls later. All happening. Boorer at three.

Plenty of action in the final overs at Thurlede, Arnav Jain getting Jason Ralston caught behind, Niels Etman caught by Van der Meulen off Schoonheim for14, and then Karson Edward run out going for an optimistic second.

Brown and Crowley take it deep, although with the first ball of the last over Brown, down on one knee, drives Mumba and holes out to Van Vliet at deep mid-off. He goes for 22, succeeded by Mark Wolfe. Some improvisational batting, and even more improvisational running, adds another nine, Mumba finishing with four for 48 and Crowley with 29*.

Kroesen’s response to that catastrophe is to cut loose: after hitting a string of fours he lofts Harhangi over long on to go to 51. But when he tries to do it again he holes out to Schoonheim and departs for 52.

At the Bermweg, Snoep remove Boddendijk, then Mason is caught by Klesse off Ahmadi to end the innings. Four for 38 for Scheepers the best figures for Sparta.

A wicket for Udit Nashier, as Overdijk gets under a drive, is caught by Boissevain, and departs for 29. Crowley in to join Brown.

Kumar skies Minhas to deep cover, where a Zulfiqar takes the catch. Jacod goes to 56*, and Tehzeeb bowls Akhil Gopinath with the final delivery. Minhas the pick of the bowlers with three for 22.

But a terrible misjudgement ends Hampton’s knock, as Kroesen pushes Arnav Jain to Janett in the covers and comes for a single. Hampton just comes a couple of steps, Kroesen keeps coming, and his partner’s run out by a country mile. The wrong man gone there, from Excelsior’s point of view, and Kroesen knows it.

The stand reaches 67, but then Patel, on 37, sweeps Boissevain, misses, and the umpire’s finger goes up. Josh Brown in to join Overdijk, who’s on 28.

Nana’s run out looking for a tight second, Shashank Kumar joining Jacod, who’s now on 47*.

Aaditt Jain switches back to the Chalet End, but Hampton eases his first delivery over midwicket for six, bringing up the 200 for Excelsior as well. Five dots represent a good recovery by the youngster, but Hampton’s on 45* and looming.

Overdijk and Patel take HCC past 200 as well, Patel sweeping Boissevain through 45 to get there. This is looking a little ominous for Voorburg, who’.

200 up for Kampong, but then Minhas gets another, Roy giving him a sharp return catch. Kertan Nana joins Jacod, who’s on 31*.

Ahmadi back after drinks, and he produces a perfect yorker which uproots De Beer’s middle stump as he makes to drive a ball which is too full Benno Boddendijk in at ten.

Oberholzer gets Naqvi, caught by Jason van der Meulen for 75, but Hampton continues in company with Joost Kroesen. on to 33* now as Schoonheim replaces Janett.

Kloppenburg makes a brisk 23, but then he gets carried away as Overdijk drives square, looking for an over-ambitious third, running almost the full length of the pitch and back again before being beaten by the throw. Yash Patel in to join Overdijk.

Shoaib Minhas into the attak, Chaturvedi makes room, but succeeds only in hitting the simplest of catches to Saqib Zulfiqar at slip. Alex Roy in to join Jacod.

Having suffered earlier at the hands of Botha, Ahsan Malik returns to remove De Mey, who drives uppishly into the covers and is caught by Manminder Singh. Sellin de Beer the new man.

Janett and Oberholzer on for VOC, and Hampton lofts the former out over extra for four, then hammers him high and handsome back over his head for six. It takes a while before the ball comes back, and they decide to take a drink.

Floyd goes past fifty, but then he tries to hit Mumba into the drink beyond long off, and it descends inside the boundary, into the hands of Ryan Klein. Hidde Overdijk in at six.

Tehzeeb back, to be struck away over square leg for six by Berry. But before the over’s out he tries to hit him over long on, and Musa dives forward to take the catch. Berry goes for a 76-ball 78, with three fours and six sixes. Vikram Chaturvedi joins Jacod.

Boendermaker misses out on what would have been a well-deserved half-century, trying to turn Baker to the 45 and bowled around his legs. Julien de Mey in to join Mason

Slow going at Thurlede, Aaditt and Harhangi keeping it tight, Naqvi and Van Troost picking up what they can. But then Harhangi gets the breakthrough, Van Troost edging to Singh and departing for 21. Brett Hampton in with Excelsior needing a wee injection of pace.

Another for Mumba, as White plays down the wrong line and is bowled. Floyd’s on 48*, but Voorburg are battling their way back into this. Enter Teun Kloppenburg, playing his first Topklasse game of the season.

Shahzad finishes his spell with two for 31. Berry’s on 48*, with Pierre Jacod on 8*, but there’s not a huge amount of batting to come, so Kampong will need these two to push on for a while yet.

Drinks at Westvliet as well, but not before Gorlee goes for a four-ball duck, playing on to a returning Mumba. Oliver White in to join Floyd, who’s gone on to 47*.

They’re taking a drink at Thurlede, with Naqvi now on 60* and Van Troost on 18*. Aaditt Jain returns from the City End.

Boendermaker’s still there, on 35* now and getting some useful support from Reece Mason. Good little stand, but HBS will need it to go a deal further if they’re to set a decent target. Max Hoornweg on from the Schollebos End now.

A double strike by Shahzad, Bangs caught by Tehzeeb at deep mid-off for 3, then Ingram bowled in his next over without scoring. In between, Berry drives Niaz through the covers for four, and hammers him all the way over cow.

Usman Malik back, from the Paddock End this time, and he gets the breakthrough: Staal drives, but he’s just a little through the shot, and Croes takes a good low catch at stright extra. He made 42, and with Floyd on 45* Boris Gorlee comes to the crease.

Naqvi’s gone on to 47*, with Jelte Schoonheim and Siebe van Wingerden operating for VOC now. Key partnership for Excelsior, this.

Umar Baker prevents Scheepers from taking all ten, trapping Navjit Singh in front with a well-flighted delivery. HBS continue to implode after Botha’s remarkable launch-pad. All a bit SpaceX, really.

Fifty for Van den Berg, but then he falls for a sucker-punch, lashing a Niaz full toss straight to Mohsin Riaz at cow. He made a run-a-ball 51, and Lachlan Bangs joins Berry.

Both batters into the thirties, but when Staal plays one down through the gully and they take three, Floyd takes some time to recover. It doesn’t stop him from pulling Boissevain’s next over square for six, but then he goes down onto his knees and has to receive some attention. 15 off the over, though, and HCC are in complete command.

A fourth for Scheepers, Del Bianco chasing one outside off stump and again snaffled by Boorer. For for 23 for Scheepers as they take a drink at the Bermweg.

Van Tonder’s vigil comes to an end, as he edges through to Singh, who celebrates wildly as Van Tonder departs for a laborious 32-ball 5. Stan van Troost in to join Naqvi.

Khurram Shahzad on from the Equestrian Centre End, with Burhan Niaz from the other. But Van den Berg moves to 47*, hitting Shahzad back over his head for six, and Punjab, like Voorburg, are in increasing need of a wicket.

HCC’s scorecard looks a bit more normal now, with Floyd on 15* and Staal on 26*. Croes has used five bowlers already, now a sixth as Mees van Vliet joins the attack from the Pavilion End.

Barresi survives the hat-trick ball, but two deliveries later he edges to Jochem Steenbergen in the gully. Botha, Walbrugh, Barresi: three pretty good notches on your belt! Lukas del Bianco joins Elmar Boendermaker, who’s quietly gone to 15* at the other end.

No doubt it had to happen: Botha, having reached 76, can’t control a drive, and Klesse takes the catch at backward point. He faced just 32 deliveries, hitting nine fours and five sixes, so 66 of his runs from boundaries. And Walbrugh lasts just one ball, strangled down the leg side and well caught by Boorer. Wesley Barresi in at four.

Roman Harhangi replaces Aaditt Jain from the Chalet End, Naqvi lofting him powerfully over mid-on for four. Van Tonder is again playing the very long game, with 4* from 27 deliveries so far.

Van den Berg has gone on to 24*, but fellow-opener Karel Vieler has been forced to retire hurt after being hit on the back of the helmet as he tries to swing Tehzeeb away behind square. It may just be a precaution, but the impact was hard enough for the ball to run away for four leg-byes. We wish him well, I especially since I once, many years ago, had to take him to Paddington Hospital in London in vaguely similar circumstances. Lane Berry the new man.

Comparatively sedate at Westvliet, but then, most things would be. The headline is that fully 23 of HCC’s runs have come from extras, including a total of 14 wides. Mumba’s off after two overs, De Leede switching to the Paddock End and Usman Malik operating now from the other.

Stunning stuff at the Bermweg, where Botha, after taking four fours off a Snoep over, hammers Malik into the Schollebos beyond long on, triggering a prolonged search. Not content with that, he repeats the dose when the ball returns, and then a four and a single take him to a 17-ball half-century. Khalid Ahmadi succeeds Snoep from the Pavilion End.

And another at Thurlede, as Rahaley drives expansively but uppishly into the covers, where Tim de Kok takes the catch. Antum Naqvi in at four.

Verhagen may be wishing he’d decided to field, since after crisply clipping Aaditt Jain off his pads for four, he gets an edge to the last of the over and is caught by keeper Bharaj/Singh. Van Tonder the new man, joining Sam Rahaley.

Ditto at the Bermweg: Lehan Botha on the charge from the get-go, lofting Ahsan Malik’s third delivery over mid-off for a one-bounce four, then despatching the next over extra for six more. He’s a equal-opportunities hitter, though, smacking Snoep wide of mid-on for another six.

A bright start at the Zomercomplex as well, where Sulaiman Tariq and Tehzeeb Haider share the new ball and Daniel van den Berg takes a boundary off each of them.

Carl Mumba starts from the Paddock End – a less than ideal opening, as he sends his first delivery down the leg side and it goes for five wides. Clayton Floyd and Tonny Staal take a single apiece, Floyd turns him to fine leg for a couple, and another wide which eludes the keeper, and that’s an expensive first over. Tom de Leede from the Pavilion End.

The odd man out is Roel Verhagen, who has won the toss for Excelsior at Thurlede and elected to bat.

At the Bermweg Joost-Martijn Snoep has won the toss and elected to field.

No actual news of the toss yet, but it looks as if HCC will be batting.

The first toss news comes from the Zomercomplex, where Alex Roy has lost the toss and Sikander Zulfiqar has invited Kampong to have a bat.