Topklasse Live | Round 13 | As it Happened

Just when it seems to be all over, Ralston conjures a consolation wicket, Baker going big and miscuing to Ingram at backward point. But Scheepers is on 88*, and only five are needed now. Ahmadi pushes a single, Scheepers smacks the next, not altogether convincingly, out to long off to finish on 92*, and Sparta win by 4 wickets.

Ingram back for a final twirl from the Schollebos End with 22 needed from the last eight, but Scheepers and Baker are equal to the challenge. Just 16 needed now.

Scheepers looks in command here, on 77* now at almost a run a ball, and Sparta need 32 from the last ten, allowing for the slight DLS adjustment (sorry, I should have spotted that earlier!). Excelsior need to pick up his wicket, pronto.

The Ralston experiment, understandably, is soon abandoned: Blankestijn succeeds him, and he gets Fraser, flicking him off his toes but straight to Ralston and departing for 35. Baker joins Scheepers, on 62*, with the game back in the balance.

Scheepers pulls Ralston off his eyebrows to reach his half-century, and then Fraser flicks him off his toes for another boundary, before lofting his final delivery wide of mid-on for six. 17 from the over, and Sparta have real momentum now.

Meanwhile, at the Bermweg, Scheepers and Fraser have taken Sparta along to 86 without further loss, Scheepers now on 47*. Ralston switches to the Pavilion End, looking for a much-needed breakthrough.

McKenzie’s bowled out, so it’s Harhangi from the River Amstel End. Van der Merwe pushes his first into the covers, they scamper the single, and ACC win by 5 wickets! Few batters can have deserved a century as much as Van der Merwe deserved his 100*.

He takes a single off Schoonheim’s to level the scores and go to 99*. Raza, like a true captain, plays out the over.

A cut in front of point takes him to 97* and the ask to three, McKenzie then testing him with a couple of short deliveries. Then he pushes the ball behind square for a single. 98*, two needed, Sheena on strike. Was he trying to hit a straight boundary there? At any rate he didn’t time it, and it’s back to Van der Merwe for the denouement.

A single apiece to start, and another for Van der Merwe off the last, make it seven needed from six, with Van der Merwe 93* and on strike. Another little subplot as he faces Mckenzie.

A couple of McKenzie wides and a four for Van der Merwe, cracked uppishly but safely through the covers, reduce the deficit to nine, or ten to win, with seven overs left. Van der Merwe 91*, and on strike to Jelte Schoonheim from the Uilenstede End.

A slip in for Ingram bowling to Fraser, but the Spartans continue to pick off the runs. Gijs Kroesen replaces Lubbers from the Pavilion End.

A boundary apiece for Van der Merwe and Sheena off Hoseinbaks eases the pressure for ACC, with McKenzie back again from the River Amstel End in what may De Kok’s last throw of the dice. And it works, as Sheena lifts his first delivery to the short midwicket boundary, gets under it, and sees Harhangi take the catch. Anis Raza joins Van der Merwe, on 86*. I’m several km. away in Amstelveen, and I swear I can feel the tension in the ACC camp from here.

Into the final ten. With only another 31 needed and six wickets in hand it ought to be a doddle, but VOC will sense that this is the partnership they need to break. They’d particularly like to get Van der Merwe, obviously, but if they could crack the innings open again they’d probably fancy their chances.

Ingram wheeling away now from the Schollebos End, not giving very much away, with Lubbers on from the Pavilion End. But Excelsior will need to keep taking wickets, given that they’re only defending 171.

One brings two, as Kothari gets a leading edge to Arnav Jain and Hoseinbaks takes the catch at mid-off. This really is ACC’s to lose from here, but winning’s habit, and it’s one they have comprehensively lost in this competition. Lots of character required, as Guy Sheena joins Van der Merwe, on 79*.

A promising little stand between Ferguson and Scheepers comes to an end, the former slashing at Ralston and edging through to Van Troost. Fraser in to join Scheepers, who’s on 20*, but the advantage is distinctly with Excelsior.

But the breakthrough comes at last, as Sayed pulls Arnav Jain to McKenzie at midwicket and departs for 54. NOW we’ll see what ACC are made of, as Kothari joins Van der Merwe, who’s on 73*.

There it is: Fletcher, after bowling a couple of wides, produces a straight one which traps De Leede in front for 36, and VRA win by 91 runs, moving into third place on the table.

And still they’re going at Westvliet, with De Leede and Nota putting together a very irritating last-wicket stand from a VRA point of view. It won’t change the result, but its NRR significance could be considerable.

Another for Ralston: Martina bowled for eight. Scheepers in to join Ferguson.

Progress at Het Loopveld is sedate rather than thrilling, but there’s a lot of pride at stake here, and Van der Merwe and Sayed are doing a great job for their side. Now on 73* and 49* respectively, and the stand up to 121. VOC are looking increasingly rattled, with 53 more needed now.

Straight back out at the Bermweg, of course, and Sparta in early trouble: Ralston, starting from the Schollebos End, has Balwantsingh fending him to Niels Etman at extra cover with his third delivery, and then Jens Blankestijn traps Mudford in front. Ferguson in to join Martina.

De Leede and Nota (there’s a phrase with quarter-century-old resonance!) are plugging away at Westvliet, if not keeping the game alive refusing to allow it to breathe its last. Nashier now from the Paddock End, Eales returning from the other. Only a matter of time, but De Leede has a career-best 24*.

Ahmadi bowls Niels Etman, and then in his next has Lubbers caught by Manminder Singh and bowls Ralston first ball. Three wickets in four balls as Gijs Kroesen is strangled down the leg side, and when Matthijs Schewe edges the first ball of Hoornweg’s next through to Mudford, Excelsior have lost four wickets in six balls without addition to the score. That, my friends, is a collapse. Four for 31 for Ahmadi.

They couldn’t, could they? Van de Merwe 62*, Sayed 34*, and the stand’s worth 92. McKenzie back from the River Amstel End.

Tom de Leede and Mees van Vliet are declining to go quietly, and they’ve added 31 very useful runs so far against Turmaine and Floyd. There could be another NRR issue to determine fourth place, so runs here are worth their weight in . . . And before I can finish, Turmaine picks up his fifth, trapping Van Vliet in front for 10. Hard to believe, but that’s only his second Michelle in his long VRA career, and his first since 2015. A very, very significant one, though.

Wiggins lashes Ekrami over squareish midwicket for six to go to 50*, then drives Sam van Giezen expansively over extra for a boundary which takes him to 55* and gives HCC the win by six wickets.

Voorburg in full-on collapse mode. Floyd, into the attack, gets Klein, his national team-mate, smartly stumped by Scully, and three balls later he traps Laurens Boissevain in front. Then in Turmaine’s next he takes a sharp return catch to remove Philippe of that Ilk, and the Voorburg innings is in tatters.

Staal’s bowled by Ekrami for 75, making the mistake of playing a defensive shot, but Wiggins is on 44* now, joined by Daniel Crowley, and the deficit’s down to eight.

Ingram accelerates into the closing overs, driving Fraser straight back over his head for six to move to 62*. But he can’t get hold of the next one, hitting a simple catch to Balwantsingh at mid-off. Niels Etman in with four overs to go.

Van der Merwe and Sayed still together, the former now on 46* and Sayed on 22*. Schoonheim and Hoseinbaks on for VOC, but you’d think the Amsterdammers need this pair to stay at the crease for at least another 10-15 overs.

Ekrami’s on from the Van Hoogenhoucklaan End, but Staal and Wiggins are composedly batting their way towards the target, and Hermes would need a spectacular turnaround to get back into this one.

‘Swinging’ becomes ‘has swung’ three balls later, as Kulkarni, having hit Turmaine for four, is strangled down the leg side and the umpire’s finger goes up again. Three for 18 now for Turmaine, as captain-for-the-day Philippe Boissevain joins Klein.

The game’s swinging VRA’s way at Westvliet, as Molenaar is given caught behind by Scully off Turnmaine. He stands for a long time before departing, but he has to go, Nirav Kulkarni the new man.

Fraser gets the breakthrough, Mitchell bowled for 71. And in the next over Verhagen lofts Scheepers out to Ferguson at deep midwicket. Ingram still there on 47*, joined now by Lubbers.

Drinks at Westvliet, with the game nicely poised. White could be key, but it’s asking a lot of the young man in his first Topklasse game; he’s on 29*, with Klein on 9*. Asking too much, clearly, since as I write that he falls to a fine catch by Eales, diving to his right at cover point, as he drives at Hake and can’t get on top of it. Michael Molenaar in at five.

Olivier Elenbaas returns from the Scoreboard End, a tidy over conceding just a single to Wiggins. But HCC have plenty in hand, with Staal now on 65* and only 61 required.

The stand goes past the hundred, Mitchell lifting Scheepers into the Schollebos to move to 67*, with Ingram now on 46*. They send out a search party, and there’s another longish delay.

Van der Merwe and Sayed putting together a promising stand at Het Loopveld, the former now on 39*, and the ACC faithful may be starting to believe. Still a long way to go, though.

All over at the Zomercomplex, Minhas lifting Boddendijk over mid-on to finish on 65* as Punjab win by 9 wickets. That will have done their NRR no harm whatsover.

Two in an over for Braat, who’s keeping Hermes in this game almost single-handed: Staal smacks him for six, flat through point, to go to 51*, but then he has Gorlee caught at midwicket by Ralph Elenbaas for 15, and with the last of his over he removes Shirshak Banerjee, bowled without scoring. Jed Wiggins in to join Staal.

It’s a southpaws’ game at Westvliet, De Lange and White both left-handers, but now it’s Leon Turmaine on from the Paddock End. And he gets De Lange, down on one knee sweeping and struck on the pad. He goes for 20, White on 24* and joined by Ryan Klein.

The breakthrough at last, as Vandiar tries to plant Amrit Singh over midwicket and finds Reece Mason instead. Asad Zulfiqar back in his accustomed number three position, joining Minhas on 54 with just 21 needed.

Fifty for Mitchell at the Bermweg, and he and Ingram have now put on 82 for the third wicket as Excelsior battle to set a defendable total.

Klijnhans on from the Scoreboard End, but Gorlee pulls him wide of mid-on for four before lifting him back over his head for six. Staal’s moved on to 45* meanwhile. There’s a NRR subplot developing here, as the two top sides race each other to a win, with home advantage perhaps at stake as we reach the play-off stage.

Potdar goes, leg-before to Mckenzie apparently, although it looked for a moment as if he might have edged to first slip. Either way, he’s out, and VOC have seized the game by the scruff of the neck as Sayed joins Van der Merwe.

Abid has removed Gigani, smartly caught, low at straightish mid-off, by Clayton Floyd for 8. Oliver White, who can barely have recovered from the jetlag, batting now with De Lange, and they’ve started to build a decent partnership.

The mayhem continues at the Zomercomplex, Vandiar hammering Boddendijk for 6-4-6 to move to 60* from 44 deliveries. Beats the hell out of running ones and twos. Minhas is comparatively restrained at the other end, his 41* needing 50 deliveries.

Braat into the attack, but Staal promptly pulls him onto the pavilion terrace or thereabouts. The Hermes captain strikes in his second over, though, Leonard slashing at a lifting delivery, edging it to Statham, and departing for 25. Staal’s on 39*, joined now by Gorlee.

The reconstruction continues at the Bermweg, Ahmadi and Baker into the attack now as Mitchell and Ingram are building a very useful partnership. Time for a drink there.

Urgency of a different kind at Het Loopveld, where Rahil Ahmed falls to Aaditt Jain’s fifth delivery, and third legal one, driving uppishly to McKenzie in the covers. Ben van der Merwe in to join Shreyas Potdar.

HCC have, like Punjab, begun their chase at a gallop, the Elenbaas brothers conceding 51 from their first half-dozen overs to Leonard and Staal. Another early finish in prospect?

Voorburg have started their chase at Westvliet, Gigani and Cedric de Lange opening against Fletcher and Ashir Abid, from VRA’s left-armer-rich attack.

Henrico Venter on at the Equestrian Centre End, Del Bianco switching to the other. But Vandiar’s now on 37*, Minhas on 33*, and they seem keen to finish this very quickly indeed.

Mitchell and Ingram working away to rebuild, although there’s a panicky moment for the latter as he defends a Hoornweg delivery, loses it off the pad, and suddenly realises it’s rolling towards the base of his stumps. He kicks it away, as the bowler sinks to his knees in frustration.

Vandiar and Minhas intent on imposing themselves on the HBS bowling, Vandiar lifting Del Bianco effortlessly over midwicket for six, and Minhas then crunching De Mey for three successive boundaries, cutting behind point, lofting him a little squarer, and then repeating the first with a tad of delicacy added into the mix. A single brings Vandiar on strike, and the left-hander slog-sweeps him for another four. Brutal stuff, this.

Another one gone at the Bermweg – this time it’s Max Hoornweg who strikes, Van Troost playing a little across the line and having his off stump surgically removed. Lorenzo Ingram in at four.

Luuk Kroesen promoted to open today, but his tenure of the crease is fairly brief, as he cuts at a Snoep delivery which climbs on him a bit, fails to get over it, and is caught by Ferguson at point. Stan van Troost in to join Mitchell.

They’ve resumed already at the Zomercomplex, where Vandiar and Minhas have made a solid start against sometime-keeper and now opener and new-ball exponent Lucas del Bianco, plus Julian de Mey. What was I saying about end of term? .

And that’s a wrap for the VOC innings too, a very handy last wicket effort from Shcoonhheim and Hoseinbaks gets them to within spitting ditance of 200.

Fletcher takes van Vliet for a big six over midwicket, but then gives Abid the strike and regrets it. next ball is tamely prodded to short midwicket and VRA are all out for 235 with three balls unused.

Van der Meulen falls for 40 chopping a full wide ball from Sayed onto the stumps. Hoseinbaks joins Schoonheim, who busts out the slog-sweep next over to put Arya over midwicket for six.

Turmaine picks out the man on the rope fine hooking van Vliet, then another for Nota as Scully holes out to deep midwicket trying to force the pace. Hake nudges to backward point next ball, sets off and is sent back to see his stumps split by a direct hit. Abid and Fletcher last over last pair.

They’ve patched it up again apparently, lost another couple of overs though. Another maiden from Snoep, who was talking the other day about Sparta’s plans to put in a new quasi-hybrid wicket. Fair to say the current surface is in the final phase of its useful existence…

A fighting rear-guard brought to an end by a direct hit from backward point to run out van Giezen as Chaudhary tries to retain strike. Impressive fightback from HCC to hold Hermes to 182.

De Kok launches Sayed deep over midwicket for six, and is rewarded with a beamer next ball. Evades successfully, but can’t cash in on the free hit and is caught in the deep next ball. Schoonheim in.

Four for Overdijk and Woermeijer shanks a short wide one to cover, van Giezen last man.

Eales looks to put van Vliet into the paddock, but he hasn’t got enough of it and he knows it. Held at long on and he’s gone for a fine 73 off 92. Turmaine in.

Wickets still falling at ‘t Loopveld, one more each for Arya and Kothari, TdK in with van der Meulen now as the latter slog-sweeps Hans over the midwicket rope for six. He’s into the 30s now but VOC still a long way from a score..

Maiden apiece for Snoep and Fraser, but the latter pulls up rubbing his hamstring now and we’re back to peering intently at the mat. More duct-tape needed?

Crowley has Elenbaas caught at mid-on off a big leading edge, then next over a horrible mix-up does for new man Abdul, more a walk-out than a run out as Overdjijk takes the bails. Woermeijer in.

It proved an obdurate last wicket stand between Singh and Boddendijk, taking HBS past 150 before Minhas wraps things up taking Boddendijk’s off pole to finish with 4-15. 153 will be the target.

Eales brings up his fifty lofting van Vliet high and handsome over the extra-cover boundary for six. Scully still with him on 16*. Klein to bowl his last from the other end, a very tidy 1-22 in 9 from him so far.

Game on! Fraser resumes his long-interrupted over, Kroesen blocks to extra. We’re playing 42 each way I gather, don’t imagine DLS will have a huge impact…

Fightback is on at de Diepput. Leonard nicks off Elenbaas, then Doram has Klijnhans caught on the rope at long on. And now Braat goes too, holes out to long off off Crowley. Ralph elenbaas joins Chaudhary.

Rumour has it they may still get a game in at Berweg, something about duct-tape was it? They’re painting lines on the mat again so could genuienly have some cricket. Not sure if they’re starting from scratch or if those five balls will count…

Jain and van der Meulen still rebuilding for VOC, Sayed back into the attack.

Minhas into the attack and ten balls into his spell finally dislodges del Bianco, edging a cut through to slip. And that prompts the collapse to resume, in his next over Minhas has de Mey well caught by a backtracking Zulfiqar at midwicket off a top-edged sweep, then Venter clean bowled next ball. Amrit Singh and Benno Boddendijk last pair.

Dutch cricket’s newest offspinner Ryan Klein into the attack, Floyd drives him out to long on to bring up the 150 for VRA. Two balls later and Klein has his third Topklasse wicket as a slow bowler, Floyd back in the crease and tapped on the pad, finger up and gone. Scully in.

Another for Overdijk meanwhile, Statham feathering an abortive late cut through to Patel. Oli Elenbaas in now.

Little progress at Berweg from what we understand. They’re having a spot of lunch.

Having done the hard work, Aaditt rather gifts his wicket to Kothari chipping back a simple return catch and gone for 32. He’s replaced by his brother Arnav, but quickly followed to the pavilion by McKenzie, who miscues a big slog-sweep off Hans and is caught for 14. Van der Meulen in.

Shahzad back, Del Bianco goes to fifty pushing him out through midwicket for one. Am impressive knock from the youngster as the rest of the top order fell apart around him.

Smal wants to get after Boissevain now, takes a knee and looks to go big over long on, gets a fair piece of it but it’s not enough and he knows it. Head drops long before the catch is taken. He goes for 39. Clayton Floyd joins Eales.

Ekrami does not long outlast his partner, Ovedijk pins him in front on the back foot next over and a fine innings ends at 66. Klijnhans in with Statham now, and consolidation the order of the day.

They’ve not given up hope at Bermweg yet, captain-chair Snoep is off to the Praxis for mat-mending supplies we’re told.

Eales and Smal continue to build on the big-scoring powerplay, hundred up for VRA. Boissevain brings himself on to bowl.

Arya cleans up Bettelheim, McKenzie joins Jain, who’s into the 30s.

Del Bianco and Scholte had held up the collapse for a few overs, but the partnership is broken now at 36 as Sikander digs one in short and Scholte miscues to mid on. De Mey in.

Ekrami brings up the century stand tucking Overdijk to leg for a single two balls after drinks, but Overdijk strikes next ball, nicking off Ostling for 34. Statham at three and off the mark lacing a cut behind point for four..

Dot ball pressure tells as Schierhout comes down to Hans and is stumped for a 25-ball 5. Bettelheim in to join Jain.

Nota into the attack and has Nashier caught behind first over, Eales in to join Smal.

Ekrami brings up his fifty swinging Overdijk away over backward point for hour, and HCC can still find no way through this partnership.

Situation at Sparta is that there’s an irreparable hole in the mat. They could possibly replace the mat altogether, but then they can’t officially continue the game. Perhaps they could abandon the game and start a new one? Rules are unclear. Nobody wants to come back for a do-over next week, given that there’s really nothing at stake anyway. Calls to officials are being made…

HBS troubles only deepen as Mason is caught behind flashing at a wide one from Tariq, then Khan survives an LBW shout before being caught behind point next ball. Scholte joins del Bianco.

Excelsior got as far as five balls into their innings when proceedings were brought to a halt. Looks like an issue with the mat. Specifically the footholes. Word is they may be relocating…

Ekrami just seven short of a half-century in the powerplay, great start for Hermes this. Doram’s been brought on early to try to put a lid on things.

Brisk but brief stay at the crease for Prince too, toe ends a pull off Molenaar to mid on and gone for 20. Nashier at four.

HBS in early trouble meanwhile, Visée drives Shahzad straight to Riaz at mid off, then two balls later Walbrugh goes back to one he probably shouldn’t have and is pinned LBW. Mason in with del Bianco.

Rasool’s opening salvo ended by a perfect yorker from Molenaar, he falls for an 11-ball 21, Smal at three.

First down at ‘t Loopveld where Fourie is caught off the bowling of none other than Rahil Ahmed. Aaditt Jain promoted to three.

Demari Prince and Shirase Rasool have come out swinging for VRA too, Mees van Vliet and Michael Molenaar taking a battering in the opening overs. Protracted ball-hunt going on at Westvliet at the moment.

Belgium’s Murid Ekrami promoted to open with Ostling today, and he’s doing his best DDC impression at the minute. Opens his account carving Crowley over point for four first ball, then gets stuck into Leonard next over. Pulls behind square for four, gets another short one and it’s away in the same direction higher and further for six.

Just a brief delay at Berweg then, Sparta win the toss and invite Excelsior to bat first. New father Tim Etman is on paternity leave today, warmest congrats to him. Tom Heggelman back in the side.

Manjinder Singh opening for the Crows and kicks off with a wild onslaught against Tariq first over, swept four, cut four, two more edges for four, living dangerously but 16 off the first. Del Bianco opening with him, Kurram Shahzad shares the new ball. Four dots and then guided to backward point, suicide single and Singh’s innings comes to an end through no fault of his own. Toby Visée blocks his first ball to cover. All happening!

Hermes win the toss and will bat at de Diepput. No Daniel Doyle-Calle for the Sky Blues today of course, he’s off at Spain’s pre-qualifier camp. Oli Elenbaas has been released by the national team today though. Daniel Doram also in for the Lions again, he’s thought to be in the frame for the T20I series next week along with a couple of other prodigals…

Punjab win the toss and put HBS in to bat the the Zomercomplex. Toby Visée back for the Crows but that’s it in terms of the expected Vink and Visée cameos. All three Zulfiqar triplets lining up for Punjab today.

VOC win the toss at ‘t Loopveld and elect to bat.

And some selection news from the Hoofdklasse too, where VCC 2s, currently engaged in a relegation battle with Dosti, have called up Voorburg and Netherlands legend Tim de Leede for their clash with Hercules. Go well, Tim!

VRA win the toss at Westvliet and elect to bat. Clayton Floyd and Ryan Klein have both been released from the national camp and will play today, as will Ollie White, the Otago left-arm spin all-rounder brought in by VCC under the 3 national call-ups rule. Floris de Lange on holiday this week, Flip Boissevain takes up the VCC captaincy..

The run-ups are still a tad damp at Bermweg we hear, will be a delayed start.