Topklasse Live | Round 12 | As it Happened

De Leede off strike with a punch toward mid off second ball, Kaplan takes four through midwicket off the next to move to 96, then four more through extra to finish on exactly 100* off 93 as Voorburg win by eight wickets.

Last role of the dice, Zaidi into the attack for the first time. Goes alright for them until an no ball on the sixth delivery, and then Kaplan putting the free hit away for four through cover. Keeps him in the hunt for a ton, on 92* now with 8 needed. De Leede on 27*. Moorthy still from the other end.

We’re in walk-it-in territory now as Cassidy returns and is taken for a fairly risk-free six runs off the 44th. Moorthy at the other end, and de Leede drives him through extra to the rope. Real question is whether he’ll crowd out a Kaplan century now. De Leede on 24* now, Kaplanon the ominous-for-some 87*. With 18 to get.

So back to Westvliet, where they’re trailing the pack by a full ten overs somehow. De Leede off the mark driving Moorthy for a crisp three that I wouldn’t be running in this heat. Kaplan onto a run-a-ball 75* coming down the track and muscling an on-drive past mid on to the rope. Shariz gives up just one from the next but he’s bowled out now if the scorers are to be believed, and Voorburg very much on course.

All over, it’s Jamil who finishes it off, back in his crease to pull Roy arond for four, then next ball makes room to cut for four more. Ostling a spectator, but his 74* indispensible to the chase as Hermes win by five wickets

Vieler back at the back end, Ostling welcomes him bcak, across the stimps on the reverse, waits for it and high over third for six. Just nine to get from the last two overs, Ostling on 73* and well set. Roy, who the scorers think is bowled out, will bowl the 49th. Hmm.

Wicket final falls at Westvliet as de Lange sweeps Shariz into the hands of deep square, falling seven short of a well-derserved century. Bad de Leede joins Kaplan, who’s on 70*.

Dutt goes missing a big heave at Roy and struck in front, but one suspects it may have come too late. Ostling still there on 55, is joined by Jamil. Kampong have an opening, but it’s closing fast.

Riaz and Zulfiqar go pedal to the metal from the 27th on, as the run rate suddenly shoots up to double figures. Saqib falls before the end, caught off Vrouwenfelder for a 46-ball 50, but by then the game is long gone. His skipper-brother comes out to join Riaz for then last rites, Riaz capping off an unbeaten 50 of his own as RCC win by six wickets.

Ingram back, and Ostling cuts him away to bring up his half century. Lotsof discussion out there among the Kampong leadership group, looks like young Dawan is getting another bowl…

De Lange gets out the reverse again to work Shariz behind point for four more and bring up the 150 for Voorburg, who look wellin charge of the chase as we go to yet another drinks break.

Riaz takes three boundaries off Vrouwenfelder to start the 21st, RCC suddenly batting as if there’s overs off, which I don’t think there are. Either way they’re well ahead of any conceivable DLS situation at the minute. Both bats on 23*.

De Lange and Kaplan continue serely on their way. Smal into the attack and welcomed with a textbook cover drive for four from Kaplan.

Dutt still playing his shots, takes a knee to Jacod for the slog sweep, six more square. That’s the 150 up for Hermes. They’ve a bit of a tail today but Kampong will need wickets sooner rather than later. Roy back.

Vrouwenfelder into the attack and removes Gondal with his first ball, Saqib Zulfiqar in. RCC still well ahead of the game though as the 100 comes up inside the 18th.

De Lange continuing to move through the geards, reverse-sweeps Abhinay for four, then brings up his half-century two balls late with a conventional sweep. Kaplan still going strong at the other end, into the twenties now. VRA a little short of ideas.

Dutt gets one in the slot from Zalpuri and launches it over midwicket for six, triggering a ball hunt and yet another drinks break.

Scoring has slowed a little since the departure of Musa Ahmad, Riaz taking his time to play himself in. RCC hardly look likely to run out of time though. Still Klein and van Oosterom operating for HBS.

De Lange puts a drag-down from Abhinay away square for four to enter the forties, hundred up for the hosts. Kaplan still with him on 15* off 17, Voorburg looking comfortable enough at the minute.

Needless mix up costs Statham his wicket, drives Zalpuri square, hesitates but Ostling is committed, Statham takes the risk on himself and falls to a direct hit at the bowler’s end. Dutt in.

Klein back and gets the breakthrough, Ahmad caught Scholte for 31. Riaz joins Gondal.

Cassidy and Moorthy in tandem for VRA after drinks, de Lange gets on likes the look of from Cassidy and lifts him back over his head for six, and couple of overs later gets one with some width and cut for four more. Otherwise uneventful.

Vieler on after drinks and Elenbaas looks to slog the first ball he gets from him over square, doesn’t get hold of it, gone for 27. Ostling still there on 17 off 34, now joined by Statham.

Gondal and Ahamd still scoring at a fair old clip, run rate is close to sevens after the powerplay, still Boddendijk and van Oosterom for the Crows.

First down at Westvliet, Levitt take a knee to Cassidy to slog, gets it rather straighter than intended really and held at long on. Kaplan in just before drinks.

Vivaan Dawan on for a couple of overs before drinks, but no joy. Does find Elenbaas’ outside edge but it runs away for four.

Boddendijk strikes with his second ball, Minhas caught behind for 15. Gondal joins Ahmad.

Levitt brings up the fifty for Voorburg lacing Hake through point for four. he’s deep into the thirties now scoring at 140 odd. De Lange hasn’t looked quite as assured but ticking along with 17* off 28.

The good news is they’re back omn at Craeyenhout, though we’ve alas lost visuals. Van Oosterom into the attack and the break doesn’t seem to have affacted Ahmad’s concentration, he’s moved on to 25* off 15, Minhas going a run a ball off the same amount of strike. Boddendijk from the other end.

Spin after drinks, Zalpuni on. Straight driven four from Ostling fourth ball the only scoring shot. Jacod from the other end, DDC closing in on fifty. But he won’t get there. Down the track to Jacod, misses and stumped for 49. Oli Elenbaas at four.

They’re back out there at Westvliet, de Lange sees off a maiden from Hake, but no such caution from Levitt as he sweeps Nashier round the corner for four, then a couple more same spot, then an expansive off drive for another boundary. Sam Cassidy comes on at the other end.

Still not entirely clear why they came off at Craeyenhout just before the rain came, but it got very heavy very quickly. Could be there was lightning about? Lets hope it’s something along those lines.

Spin after drinks, Zalpuni on. Straight driven four from Ostling fourth ball the only scoring shot. Jacod from the other end, DDC closing in on fifty. But he won’t get there. Down the track to Jacod, misses and stumped for 49. Oli Elenbaas at four.

Still clear at Utrecht for now, DDC still going at a fair clip as he picks up a slot ball from Roy over the leg side for six. Loses Rushmere though, who slices one to short third a coupleof balls later. Ostling at three.

Back on at Westbliet at last, Levitt and de Lange opening for the hosts, Hake and Nashier share the new ball. Or rather they were back, looks like it’s raining there too now.

It is now raining at Craeyenhout, though I’m not convinced that’s the reason they came off.

Minhas enjoying anything full, drives Klein dead straight for four and then again through extra a few balls later. But oh what’s this? Klein at the top of his mark hurls the ball away and makes for something or someone on the boundary out of shot, as do a number of his team-mates. Not again surely?

Spot of fortune for Doyle as he thick-edges a bouncer from Roy over slip for four, but still punishing anything full or wide. He’s on to 26* of 19, Rushmer on 10* off 11. Still Ingram at the other end.

Back on at Craeyenhout too, and spin to start with Kent Goedeke opening the bowling. Too much width to Musa Ahmad though, and is thrice laced through the covers for four. Kyle Klein shares the new ball, Minhas facing for the second.

Overpitched from Roy second ball and driven wide of mid off for four by DDC, then clips a couple off his toes. Hermes will be hoping that’s the first hint of a return to form for him. Ingram’s left arm spin to start from the other end, and milked for five off it. Tighter from Roy for the third, but a good start for Hermes.

Meanwhile they’re done with lunch and back on already at Maarschalkerweerd, Hermes need 229 to get 3 points clear of VOC in the relegation hotspot. Doyle-Calle and Rushmere opening, returning skipper Roy takes the new ball.

And done. Worden twice drives Upadhyaya out square of the cover sweeper for two and HCC win by five wickets. HCC push up to within a win of the top spot (for now) VOC stay rooted to the bottom of the table.

Worden and Floyd can smell victory at de Diepput now though, Harhangi back but is taken for 11 off the 21st. Malik back from the other end, three dots, coupe of leg byes and then a two off the last ball. HCC one hit away.

Cracking little cameo from Abhinay as he takes Islam for 13 off the last four balls, he finishes on 17* off 9, Zaidi on 28* off 15 as together with Jack Cassidy earlier they push VRA up to an impoising 280-7 at the break.

Meanwhile Worden and Floyd have stabilised things somewhat at de Diepput, Hoseinbaks and Upadhyaya looking for the breakthrough but the hosts edging toward victory.

Zaidi and Cassidy goes to 33 reverse sweeping de Lange to the rope, but is bowled next ball. Nashier in, but holes out to long on off Islam first ball of the next over. Abhinay joins Zaidi and a string of singles gets them up past 250 with two overs to come.

Zaidi and Cassidy finding the rope reliably as VRA accelerate into the final stretch, somehow still four overs to go in the innings despite being the only ones that haven’t been off for rain.

Big wicket at de Diepput as Malik has Gorlee caught deep square, then another for Upadhyaya as Patel falls for 6. Floyd in with Worden now and HCC suddenly looking wobbly. VOC have loess than 40 runs to play with though.

Saqib gets Scholte stumped for 31 to end a very fine partnership at 77. Van Oosterom doesn’t last near as long, Boddendijk in for the final few. Del Bianco doesn’t manage enough of the strike to get to three figures, ending up at the non-strikers on 89* on the final ball, which Boddendijk thumps for six over long-on. Impressive fight-back from Del Bianco and the lower order to get HBS north of 200.

200 up for VRA as Smal thumps Jain over long on for six, but Jain has the last laugh as another big swing fails to clear the man on the midwicket rope. Smal gone for 40, Zaidi joins Cassidy.

VOC find a third, Banerjee fending a short one from Upahyaya to gully, who takes a good low tumbling catch. Gorlee in with Worden now with less than fifty needed.

Edwards gets a couple of sweeps away, and some agressive running pushes up the score in the closing phase as they find a boundary and four twos in Oli Elnbaas’ last. Slog-sweep for six off Dutt first ball of the 50th gets him into the 90s, but he won’t quite make three fiigures. Another sweep for four to finish leaves him unbeaten on 96*, very strong finish for the hosts to get up past 220 on what looks a tricky deck.

Ahmad goes looking to force the pace, caught off Glover for 7. Acceleration hasn’t been easy on either of the turf wickets today. Jack Cassidy joins Smal.

Kloppenburg’s been putting on a bit of a show at de Diepput meanwhile, reprieved once or twice but looked on course for a breakneck fifty before finally a top edge is held in the deep, he goes for a 16-ball 49. Staal follows shortly after, nicked off by Malik for 33. Worden and Banerjee the new men, those wickets have slowed things up some but hard to imagine it’ll do much but delay the inevitable.

Some late acceleration from HBS meanwhile as Del Bianco slog-sweeps Sqaib Zulfiqar over midwicket for four. Half century for him, Scholte still with him on 30*.

Hermes have managed to keep a lid on the scoring at the back end despite two set bats still in the middle, Ralph Elenbaas and Jamil showing good control. Oli Elenbaas back now and four dots to Roy before he goes short and is pulled hard for six in front of square. Kampong won’t get much north of 200 from here though you wouldn’t think.

Voorburg bag their third as de Lange drags the VRA skipper forward and beats the reach, bails whipped off and up goes the finger. Shariz Ahmad join Smal in the middle.

TStaal brings up the fifty carving Fletcher up over backward point, then swivel-pulls the next over square for six. HCC looking to get this done in a hurry.

Del Bianco and Scholte digging in for the Crows, the former of 37* off 73 balls now. Haider back.

Half-century for Edwards as we go to the fourth drinks break, Kampong will look to kick on in the last ten too you’d think.

150 up for VRA, but the second wicket falls as Cassidy top-edges a pull off Islam and is caught for 87, as is tradition. Nidamanuru joins Smal as VRA look to capitalise on a platform. Just 13 overs to go now though.

They’re back out again at de Diepput, too much width from Harhangi to Staal first up and is thrice put away for four behind point, and again, Staal gets under the fourth and lifts it for six in the same direction. Kloppenburg with him and gets stuck into Fletcher in the next, HCC racing out of the blocks.

Del Bianco and Scholte digging in for the Crows, the former of 37* off 73 balls now. Haider back.

Hermes fighting back now, Jacod castled looking to get the reverse out to van Giezen, then Ingram goes hitting a shorter ball from Dutt straight to cover. Roy in with Edwards now, the latter closing in of fifty.

Collapse complete at de Diepput. A rampant Crowley takes two in two ripping out Upadhyaya’s middle pole, then taking Fletcher’s off stump with the next delivery He finishes with 6-31 as VOC are bolwed out for 142.

And finally the wicket falls for Voorburg, looks a slower ball from Glover and Padda spoons it up for an easy catch at long on. He goes for 57, Smal in with Cassidy now, the latter on 67*.

Hundred up for HBS, but they lose another as Klein pops a return catch back to Tariq. Scholte joins del Bianco.

Wickets still falling at de Diepput, Malik loses his off stump to Crowley now. Harhangi in, but not for long as he misses a fuller one from Leijer and an insistent appeal for LBW is rewared. Hoseinbaks in.

O’Dowd goes to fifty fetching Dutt from outside off for four through midwicket, holds the pose, but won’t get much further as the next beats him as he pushes forward to defend, grips, through the gate and bowled. To his credit, O’Dowd holds that pose too. What a showman. Jacod in with Edwards now.

Padda goes to fifty, paddle sweep over the shoulder off de Lange followed up with a drive out to long on. Cassidy brings up the hundred partnership in de Lange’s next pulling a short ball for four, then brings up his own half century after an extended drinks break. Signs of acceleration now, VRA have quite the platform but they’ve taken their time building it.

Ooh, that’s a bit nasty, Del Bianco putting in the dive for a dicey single and struck on the helmet by the throw coming in. Takes a while to compose himself, concussion check okay though it seems and he’s alright to continue.

Just as Fourie and Price were putting a partnership together a dodgy single, breif hesitation and a direct hit from mid-on sees Price run out for 26. Malik in. And one brings two as Crowley swings one through Fouries defences three balls later. Upadhyaya in.

Shafiq into the attack, and Walbrugh falls one short of fifty prodding a return catch back to him third ball. Kyle Klein in at seven.

O’Dowd and Edwards proving an obdurate pair too, 81 for the third wicket now, O’Dowd on 47* and Edwards into the 30s now. Dutt back into the attack.

Still no way through this opening stand for Voorburg, both bats looking well set, Cassidy on 31*, Padda on 43*. Jain back into the attack.

Another for Worden as Butt advances only to pop up a high return catch, wg=hich Worden takes comfortably. Butt goes for 31, Fourie in to join Price, and the pair take VOC to three figures. Floyd still at the other end as Brown returns to replace Worden.

Botha the third HBS bat to miscue Gondal into the hands of a fielder on the off side, picks out Minhas at mid off. Goedeke in, as Suleiman Tariq comes into the attack rather later than usual. Makes up for lost time though with a wicket in his second over, Goedeke caught midwicket on the pull. Del Bianco joins Walbrugh, who’s on 39*.

O’Dowd and Edwards warming to their work as Braat cycles through his options. Jamil and Ralph Elenbaas toiling in the heat for now. O’Dowd on 40*, Edwards 25* as we go to drinks again.

Voorburg still looking for the first breakthrough meanwhile, as Padda brings up the fifty for the visitors with a maximum off Glover, before Cassidy pulls for four more three balls later.

Worden into the attack now, and Butt skips down fourth ball to force him up and over vacant mid off for four. Floyd on at the other end and van der Meulen puts a drag-down away over the on side, then sweeps for four more two balls later. Next over Worden overpitches and is put away for six over leg by can der Meulen, but next ball chases a wide one and feeds a catch to cover. Price at five.

Back on at Craeyenhout too. Walbrugh brushes Haider off the hip for four second ball back. Still Gondal from the other end.

They’re back on again at Westvliet, just a passing shower it seems. No overs off as yet. Double bowling change after the power play, Rippon and Glover into the attack now.

Trijzelaar into the attack and van der Meulen picks his third ball up off a length and launches him over the on side for six, then cuts a wide one for a single to take VOC to 50. Been a good recovery from this pair but VOC will want them to stay together a good while yet.

Amusingly, the rain has arrived at Westvliet to pre-empt the early drinks break. Padda and Cassidy’s opening stand still unbroken.

O’Dowd and Edwards consolidating for the hosts after those early wickets, the former driving the scoring with a brisk 22*. And an early drinks break, in accordance with the heat protocols in force today.

Rain is back at Craeyenhout and this time they will come off, which will annoy Tayo Walbrugh who‘s on a brisk 21* and was looking more assured than he has all season.

They’re back on at de Diepput after a heavy but brief shower. Brown and Crowley still moving it both ways, each have had two slips in before and after the break. Crowley especially threatening both edges of the bat as Butt sees off a maiden.

Cassidy and Padda still together for VRA, also comparatively sedate going as Padda sees off a maiden from Islam. Jain to continue from the other end.

Kampong have lost their second too, Vieler going without scoring – caught behind off Dutt. Edwards in with O’Dowd now and looking remarkably circumspect.

A second for Gondal too as Khan departs in similar fashion to Mason, miscuing high into the off side. Botha joins Walbrugh, rain has moved on again it seems.

Another down at de Diepput, Montague goes for a four ball duck as Crowley swings one back into his pads. Doing a fair bit through the air today looks like. Van der Meulen in now – as the rain arrives, and heavy enough to force them off.

VRA the only ones to escape the the opening exchanges unscathed so far, Cassidy and Padda opening. Aaditt Jain back in the side for the hosts and shares the new ball with Islam.

I can report that there is rain falling at the Hague. Will be a blessed relief to everyone that’s not trying to play cricket, and not heavy enough to force them off for now. There is a lot of weather mostly over the North Sea at the moment, we may catch the edge of it but looks to mostly be slipping by.

One down at Craeyenhout too, Mason caught in the off side off Gondal. Walburgh in early at three to join Khan. Haider from the other end.

It was indeed HCC’s call to bowl first, but Samir Butt might be making them regret it. Three dots off Brown’s firth three balls, then goes over cover, then a low straightish on drive, then uppishly through extra for three consecutive boundaries. Crowley strikes back for the hosts in the next though, short ball rises on de Kok and he narrowly evades, next is full and speared into off stump. Montague at three.

First wicket of the day falls at Maarschalkerweerd, and it’s van den Berg that goes fourth ball of the day, caught off Numair for a couple. Vieler at three to join O’Dowd. Aryan Dutt shares the new ball.

VOC to bat first at de Diepput, not clear whose idea that was as yet, though I suspect the hosts’.

RCC win the toss at Craeyenhout and buck the trend, inviting their hosts to bat first. Understandable temptation on the artificial to avoid having to field in the afternoon heat.

VRA win the toss at Westvliet and will also bat first.

Word from Maarschalkerweerd is the hosts have won the toss and elected to bat. Expect some fairly dry pitches all over given the weather, so may be a popularn choice today. Roy and Swanepoel back in the side, Bangs has departed of course, van den Harten also makes way.