Topklasse Live | Round 13 | As it Happened

There was a lot of rope hauling around the outfield, and the umpires went out to have a look. There was actually sunshine for a few minutes, but it seems the ground was just too wet and the match has been abandoned.

And finally some good news: the work of removing the covers and assessing the damage has started at the Bermweg. There may be some more play after all!

Given the match situation, they’re still hoping for a re-start at the Bermweg. There would presumably be a reduction in overs, and hence in the target, if the weather relented.

The weather has won at De Diepput as well: match abandoned.

Not really a surprise: the match at Het Schootsveld has been abandoned.

It is indeed raining as de Diepput, as we had feared. Chances of getting a game in receding rapidly.

The Salland innings has certainly been delayed by rain in Deventer, so we’ll have a DLS situation if they’re able to get under way again.

The rain has set in seriously now: covers on at the Bermweg, and we reckon play may have stopped everywhere.

They’re back at the Bermweg, Hobson and Reddy bowling to Ferguson and Gagandeep. Steady start, until Ferguson cuts Reddy’s final ball powerfully through point for four.

And another for Jain as the HCC collapse continues, Gorlee caught for 21. Hidde Overdijk in to join Floyd with the hosts in all sorts of trouble.

Niaz into the attack and produces a double-strike in his second over, Vandiar caught Edwards for 3 and Patient Charumbira pinned LBW without scoring four balls later. Clayton Floyd joins Gorlee in the middle.

It only lasts another three deliveries, Mishra pushing Bashir tentatively into the covers, where Ferguson takes the catch. Precautionary covers come on for the innings break.

Another down at de Diepput where Felix Vecchi is stumped off Arnav Jain for a laboured 3 off 21. Vandiar in to join Gorlee.

Four balls later Hans follows, bowled for 2. This has been a splendid fightback by Sparta after ACC were 98 for two. Devanshu Arya joins Mishra, but he’s beaten by a direct hit from Ferguson as they take a rather casual run. Joe Reddy the last man.

Jain and Hoornweg are keeping it tight at De Diepput, Vecchi and Gorlee having to fight for every run.

The rain break in Capelle was only momentary, Clark continuing from the Schollebos End and three coming from his over. ACC need to create some momentum again, but they don’t really have the wickets to do it. And the cause is not helped when Zaidi edges Snoep head-high to keeper Tarr. Arnav Mishra the new man.

Rain intervenes at the Bermweg, and the covers come on.

And Hoornweg strikes: Staal caught behind off the second ball he receives. Boris Gorlee in very early to join Vecchi.

Raza’s gone, driving Snoep in the air to Joost Kroesen at cover point. Mahesn Hans in to join Zaidi.

VOC keep the umpires and batters waiting for what seems like an eternity before they eventually arrive in the middle. Even then there doesn’t seem to be any great sense of urgency as Arnav Jain prepares to bowl the first over to Felix Vecchi, opening today with Tonny Staal. He bowls a maiden from what we’ll call the Pavilion End, with Max Hoornweg starting from the Van Alkemadeweg End.

Barresi’s been dismissed at Het Schootsveld, and Lucas Del Bianco is in to join Drummond. We don’t know how many the opener has, but he must have a decent score.

That’s a very big wicket for Sparta, as Potdar is run out looking for a tight second. He turned a Bashir delivery behind square, but was beaten back by Clark’s return, Tarr absolutely destroying the stumps. Ammar Zaidi in to join Anis Raza.

They’re going to start at 14:15 at De Diepput, playing 37 overs a side. VOC have won the toss and elected to field.

Hobson clips Bashir off his pads for four, but two balls later he reaches for one outside off and holes out to Gagandeep Singh at mid-on. He goes for 34, and Heino Kuhn joins Potdar, who’s on 35*. And lasts two balls, trapped in front by a full delivery! Sparta are fighting back!

A cracking cover drive from Potdar off Clark posts the second boundary, and with a two next ball he moves to 24*. He’s taken 47 deliveries, but it’s a hugely valuable innings for his side. Hobson, too, is starting to get going, although Clark hauls things back with a maiden over. Faisan Bashir on now from the Pavilion End, and his first delivery is pulled by Potdar for four in front of square. Later in the over Hobson adds another, as ACC begin to gather some momentum.

Walbrugh has been trapped in front for 56, not sure by whom. Wesley Barresi in to join Drummond.

Some luck for Potdar, who cuts Clark to the left of Gargandeep Singh in the gully, but he can’t hold onto it. Runs remain at a premium for ACC, though, and if Sparta hadn’t been so prodigal with the wides they’d be well on top here.

They’ve made the call to switch the game to the second field at De Diepput. Trouble is, that’s quite wet too. No word on potential toss time as yet . . .

First boundary of the morning (well, early afternoon), as Potdar lofts Bukhari a little streakily behind point; then a much more authentic drive through cover point earns him a couple more. Snoep continues from the Pavilion End, Hobson getting off the mark with a square cut for three. Clark from the Schollebos End, four more wides boosting the ACC total.

We understand that Tim Drummond and Walbrugh are still together at Het Schootsveld, and building a solid base for HBS. We still have neither scorecard nor live stream to confirm this for you.

Wegener’s gone, failing to get on top of a drive off Bukhari and finding Faisal Bashir in the covers. Thomas Hobson joins Potdar, who’s on 4*.

It’s taken Potdar 18 deliveries to get off the mark, but he does so with a sweet drive through the covers for a couple off Snoep. Wides are comfortably the top scorer in these early stages, both Bukhari and Snoep spraying it around a good deal. It might have something to do with the run-ups, one suspects.

Bukhari has the early breakthrough, Kumar driving to Ferguson at cover. Wegener at three.

Fraser Bartholomew (I think) has replaced Victor Lubbers from the Pavilion End, an acceleration in the scoring the immediate result. Salland really need to remove Tayo Walbrugh pretty quickly if things are not to get out of hand here.

And they’re underway, Bukhari and Snoep share the new ball, Kumar and Potdar opening for ACC. No runs off the bat as yet, but Sparta have been a tad wayward, four wides so far.

Sparta did indeed win the toss and elect to bowl, start in 5 minutes’ time.

They’ve started at Het Schootsveld, HBS batting after losing the toss, and we understand that Reece Mason has been and gone. In the absence of a scorecard it’s difficult to give you much hard information, but we can tell you that left-armers are operating from both ends.

And we are reliably informed that they’re aiming at an 11:30 toss in Deventer.

No news from Het Schootsveld as yet, but we live in hope.

Things look a good deal more promising at the Bermweg, where the plan is to toss at 11 o’clock with a view to getting under way at 11:30.

The news from De Diepput is that the soppers are out, as well as the leaf blower. There’s plenty of activity, but it’s unlikely they’ll get a start anytime soon.