Topklasse Live | Round 13 | As it Happened

And all over. Naqvi has Nashier caught and bowled. Last man Nota run out and all done. The day’s fifth blow-out as Excelsior win by 54 runs. That was as close as we got today, but not close.

Tom de leede still believes, puts a full toss from Joost Kroesen away for six, then the free hit back over his head for six more. Takes four more off Naqvi in the next, but it can’t last. Verhagen brings himself on and feathered edge on the cut through to the keeper and gone for 28. Malik in and pinned by Naqvi. Mees van Vliet in with Nashier now and just a matter of time. .

That leaves events at Thurlede as the last going concern, where VCC have subsided somewhat. Rahaley and Ralston have done for the middle order, with Croes’ 40-ball 40 the most significant contribution. Tom de Leede and Udit Nashier in now, but hope fading. Naqvi and Joost Kroesen for the hosts.

HCC in more than trouble, Overdijk caught off Rossouw on the cut for 42, and then Barresi gets Crowley mishitting a slog-sweep next over. And more than more than trouble, it’s done. Floyd last man attempts a reverse something at van der Merwe, it’s through him, but gloved says the umpire and gone. HCC all out for 200 on the nose as HBS win by 67 runs. That wasn’t really close either.

It’s not going to be close here either, Singh continues to profit from some reckless batting before Shariz belatedly enters the attack and does for Sam Ferguson and Hoornweg in short order. And as I type it’s all over. Singh had been hit for a few at the back end as Sparta go down swinging, but he won’t mind as Tim Ferguson nicks through on the latest wild swing for an entertaining 28, delivering Singh a five-for as VRA win by 143 runs. That was not close.

All over at Hazelaarweg, though that’s been true a while. Harhangi run out, last man Koppejan caught off Minhas as Punjab win by 166 runs. That was not close.

HCC in trouble now as de Mey finally finds reward, had Wolfe caught and bowled for 32, and now Yash Patel top edging a slog-sweep and gone for 3. Crowley in with Overdijk now, Floyd still to come but becoming a very tough ask.

Speaking of games that are all but over, Kamal’s intervention has sparked a true collapse at Hazelaarweg, lower order subsides in the face of the Punjab slow section, a defiant 22 off 15 from van Wingerden the only real resistance. Aaditt Jain in with Hingorani now for the ninth wicket.

Sparta’s challenge slumping in the face of what would appear at first glance to be some comparatively unthreatening bowling from Vikram Singh. Effective though. Nicks off Klesse, now has Scheepers, in similar fashion. Turmaine meanwhile has chipped in the wickets of Malik LBW and manimnder Singh clean bowled. Baker and Ferguson in the middle now but this game’s all but over. Nidamanuru brings himself on to bowl.

Voorburg making light of this chase at the minute, Kaplan and Croes have taken them past the half-way point with more than half the overs to go. They’re on 70* and 34* respectively, Gijs Kroesen and Sam Rahaley toiling away for the hosts.

Wolfe and Overdijk still for HCC, and have taken them past the half way stage. Still biding their time for now but HBS will be happy with the way the asking rate is climbing, de Mey particularly economical giving up just 21 from his 7 so far. Barresi back,.

Kamal back with a bang in fact. de Kok was just the first of three wickets in his second burst so far, Oberholzer bowled and then van der Meulen caught for a four ball duck. Jannet still their in the thirties, Arnav Jain joins him..

And a breakthrough her at the Bos too, SGW as the say, Singh with a shortish ball down leg, asking to be hit, Boorer gives chase and clips something on its way through to Cassidy. VRA celebrate for a bit before remembering to ask the umpire’s opinion, who indeed agrees with them. Klesse in at four.

And it’s Etman that does break the stand, de Lange pushing forward and struck in front, finger up and he goes three short of a deserved half century. .

Well Gorlee’s taken more than a few off van der Merwe, but the bulldog has the last laugh as the HCC skipper looks to put him over the covers again but miscues and held by RvdM’s fellow Crows veteran debutant Heino Kuhn. He goes for a 61-ball 64, Overdijk to the middle.

To quote the Jesus and Mary Chain, Kamal’s been away but now he’s back, and breaks the second wicket stand at 77, de Kok caught Zulfiqar for a 51-ball 42. Oberholzer at four, Jannet in the thirties, runs coming but the asking rate continues to climb.

Malik and Boorer see Sparta through the powerplay without further loss, though not without risk as the latter has been reprieved when put down off Ruffel at deep backward square. Malik, the less adventurous of the two, on an obdurate 6*, Boorer on 13*, extras leading the way on 18.

Kaplan and de Lange continue to make serene progress for Voorburg, 83 the opening stand now, Etman and Naqvi currently charged with breaking it.

Two for Rossouw, who removes White and Kloppenurg in succession,but Gorlee continues to make hay. Takes a particular liking to van der Merwe as he races to fifty at better than a run a ball. Wolfe in with him now.

It will not surprise you to hear that it’s all over at Utrecht, fiftyies for Berry and van den Berg both, the former bringing it up with a six and the latter a comparatively tame single, they finish on 62* and 50* respectively as Kampong win by 9 wickets.

Fifty up for VOC too, Jannet and de Kok going well enough but inevitably the asking rate continues to creep up. Kamal into the attack now.

The league’s most productive opening partnership continues to deliver meanwhile. Kaplan driving the scoring as usual but both going at a good clip. Ralston coming in for particular tap and fifty up for Voorburg in quick time.

First down here at the Bos, Steenbergen top-edging a pull off Ruffel, simple catch for Gouge behind the wicket and gone for 8. Boorer at three.

Kampong apparently have an eye on a free afternoon, berry and van den Berg going hell-for-leather after the less than imposing target. Both closing in on fifty, barely enough runs left to get for both to make the milestone. Jabarkhail and kothari the unfortunate bowlers at the minute.

HCC two down of a sudden as Staal dances past a length ball from Barresi and is stumped, before Botha removes Brown’s off stump in the next. Gorlee and Ollie White in, who press on unpertuerbed, Rossouw into the attack and Gorlee brings up the fifty reversing him for four. Looks like Roelof van der Merwe to bowl his first ever over for the Crows.

And a quick turnaround here at the Bos, Malik up to open with Steenbergn. No runs off the bat first over but six off it all told, four leg byes and two wides as Fletcher looks for his line. And Ruffel’s radar’s a ways off too, five wides in his first, Sparta up with the rate without scoring a run so far.

Early wicket at Hazelaarweg meanwhile as Tariq has Kooistra caught high second slip off the last ball of the first. De Kok joins Jannet, Haider tidy from the other end too. Just one off his first.

Back on th Thurlede too, Kaplan back up opening with de Lange, the latter finds the first boundary cutting Ralston behind square last ball of the first. Edward to share the new ball.

Chase progressing in fast forward at Utrecht, fifty up for Kampong, but not before Elenbaas removes O’Dowd for 11 with one that nipped in past the inside edge and off the back pad into off. Berry at three. Van den Berg into the thrirties already, Berry on a run-a-ball 9*, and Kothari now from the other end.

And underway at Craeyenhout too, Brown and Staal opening for the visitors. And both bats off the mark with a boundary, Brown pulling a back-of-a-length ball from Bothat flat and square, then Staal down the track to Barresi to drive hard through the covers.

And indeed so they are, O’Dowd and van den Berg opening, Elenbaas and Numair sharing the new ball. Quiet start, smattering of singles and a wide or two, before vd Berg takes advantage of the extra deliveries, picking up a length ball on leg over square for four. That seems to open the floodgates, and next over Van de Berg takes Elenbaas for four boundaries in five balls. Could be over quickly, this…

Thakur goes for 44, caught by Tim Ferguson at deep midwicket off Hoornweg, but Zaidi reaches a maiden Topklasse fifty with a boundary off Snoep. Leon Turmaine falls leg-before to Snoep, Zaidi hoists Hoornweg down the throat of Tim Ferguson and departs for 55, and Peter Ruffell, having smacked Snoep for six, is another to fall off the final ball.

An absolutely extraordinary innings from Hampton takes Excelsior past 300, his century coming from just 49 deliveries with a glance to the fine leg boundary. His 113 included six fours and ten sixes, although he fell to the final ball of the innings, caught by Nashier at point off Mumba.

Some excellent batting from Zaidi and Thakur transforms the VRA innings, on 48* and 40* now, with four overs left.

And indeed, Gondal and Sikander plunder another 43 off the last five, finishing on 33* and 40* respectively. By a distance the champions’ highest total of the season, and VOC have Everest to climb after the break.

Walbrugh attempts a very ambitious leg-side scoop off Crowley from well outside off stump, but can only steer the ball into Mark Wolfe’s gloves. But he made 101. Van der Merwe and De Mey push on, the former smashing Floyd over long off for six, but when he tries to repeat the dose off the final delivery he holes out to Overdijk.

Pierre Jacod finishes it off, Ralph Elenbaas caught by Roy at long on, Kothari by O’Dowd a little wider, and Jabarkhail completing the set three balls later. Three for 27 for him.

Sikander is hammering Punjab’s advantage home, 21* from 14 so far, Gondal holding up the other end. Arnav Jain has bowled out, his ten overs yielding just 30 runs, but the other spinners have come in for some serious stick. 300 seems inevitable from here.

Gouge is run out for 46, looking for a second but beaten by Snoep’s throw from square leg. Zaidi and Viraj Thakur are together going into the last ten.

Kroesen major doesn’t last long, hitting a low return catch to Usman Malik. But Hampton, now in company with Niels Etman, completes a 28-ball fifty, including three fours and four sixes, getting Excelsior well past 200.

Yet another century for Walbrugh, who’s needed just 118 deliveries to get there. Del Bianco’s gone past fifty at the other end, but on 59 he fails to get hold of a big blow off Floyd and is caught by White at deep mid-on. And who should enter but Roelof van der Merwe, who’s one of the internationals who’s allowed to play today.

Hermes in deep trouble now. First Lachlan Bangs, angling the ball across Braat, draws him into edging to keeper Van den Berg, who dives a long way to his right to take a fine catch. Then Elenbaas skies Ingram to deep extra, and doesn’t hang around for the ball to come down into Lane Berry’s hands. Brother Ralph replaces him, joining Sahil Kothari in the middle.

The boundaries are really starting to flow now, Riaz and Gondal taking the VOC spiunners apart. Gondal’s raced to 40* from 32, Riaz on 30* from 25. But as I pen these words (well, key them), (a) the scoreboard is adjusted to show Riaz on 54* and Gondal on 17*, and (b) Riaz holes out to A Jain at deep midwicket and departs. Sikander Zulfiqar the new man.

Smal and Gouge added 72, but now Smal lofts Scheepers out to deep cover, where Sam Ferguson takes the catch. He goes for 64, and Ibaad Zaidi joins Gouge’ who’s on 36*.

Double blow for Excelsior: first, when Van Tonder plays the ball firmly back to Malik he takes it, spins around and throws the wicket down before non-striker Van Troost can regain his ground. Incredibly quick thinking by the old hand. In the next over Van Tonder, on 95, pulls Mees van Vliet to deep midwicket, where Nota takes the catch. Big setback for the hosts, with Brett Hampton and Joost Kroesen now at the crease..

White’s appeal for LBW against Walbrugh is so fevered that he collapses in a heap on the pitch, but all to no avail. Del Bianco rubs it in by hoisting the next high over cow for six. Walbrugh now on 71*, Del Bianco on 31*.

Another for Gopinath: Jamil lofts him towards square leg and is caught by Lachlan Bangs. Braat in to join Elenbaas, and they’ve dug in, Gopinath completing his spell with three for 17. Drinks at Maarschalkerweerd.

Double strike by Janett: first Musa makes to cut and edges through to keeper Koppejan, departing for 42, and in his next over Minhas, having gone to 92 by despatching him over square leg for six, is caught in front. Muhammad Gondal joins Mohsin Riaz in the middle,

It was Smal and Gouge who kept VRA in the match at the Bermweg, and they’re showing signs of doing it again in the Bos. Smal’s gone on to 48* now, Gouge on 14*. Manminder Singh and skipper Snoep are Sparta’s current pairing with the ball.

Nota back from the Chalet End to complete his stint, but Van Troost sees him off with back-to-back boundaries, the first back over his head, the second pulled in front of square. That takes Van Troost to 37*, Van Tonder on 77*.

Commentator’s Curse strikes Kuhn and me, since in Leijer’s next over he drives uppishly and is caught by Overdijk at mid-on. That looked like a planned manoeuvre, Overdijk having had a word with Leijer following the previous delivery. Since then Walbrugh and Lukas Del Bianco have made good progress, the HBS skipper on 63* now,

Zulfiqar shows signs of increasing frustration as he faces Gopinath, and he finally lashes out once too often, edging a catch to Damien van den Berg and departing for 15. Mussayab Jamil in to join Elenbaas.

Aaditt Jain returns from the Airport End, but Punjab are firmly in control now, and when he tries a bouncer to Minhas he ramps him over the slips for four to move to 80*. Musa’s on 36*, and the stand’s worth 85.

Shariz leans back, making to play Max Hoornweg through point, but he doesn’t get on top of it and Tim Ferguson takes the catch. Patrick Gouge in to join Smal, who’s on 30*.

Hundred up for Excelsior, and a welcome half-century for Van Tonder. Gavan Kaplan brings himself on, but Voorburg’s cause isn’t helped when the batters take a quick single at the throw at the stumps runs away for four overthrows.

It’s been a while since Kuhn held a bat in anger, but he’s settled in pretty effectively in partnership with Walbrugh. He’s moved on to 33* already, Walbrugh on 39*, with Teun Leijer and Clayton Floyd operating now for HCC

Big wicket at Maarschalkerweerd: Doyle gets to 34, but then Akhil Gopinath sneaks one past his forward defensive and into the stumps. Olivier Elenbaas joins Zulfiqar.

Fifty for Minhas, and with Musa settled at the other end Punjab have the foundations of a big total.

There’s some umpirely concern about Scheepers encroaching on the protected area in his follow-through, but it doesn’t stop him from tempting Nidamanuru into chasing one outside off, the edge flying to Sam Ferguson at second slip. Shariz Ahmad in to join Smal, and when Baker offers up a full toss Shariz lashes it wide of mid-on for six.

There’s a whole lotta graftin’ goin’ on at Thurlede, although Van Tonder is looking a deal more fluent than he has in his recent innings. Mumba switches to the Chalet End, and Van Tonder lofts him over mid-on for a couple, then a puched single to go to 32*.

Drinks at Craeyenhout, Walbrugh and Kuhn digging in for the long haul. Oliver White introduces spin for the first time, with Overdijk continuing from the other end.

Still slow going at Maarschalkerweerd, Doyle’s 25* having come from 45 deliveries with just a single boundary. Ingram has conceded just six runs in four overs, Roy only nine.

It’s Van Wingerden who breaks the partnership, Butt caught by Scott Janett for 20. Musa Ahmad in with Minhas now, on 12* and 34* respectively .

Scheepers pitches one up to Singh, he makes to drive, and it crashes into his off stump. He’s gone for 15, and Teja Nidamanuru joins Smal at the crease.

Usman Malik on now, and he’s got one past Naqvi’s defensive push, taking off stump. A disconsolate Naqvi trudges off, to be replaced by Stan van Troost. Van Tonder’s on 21* now, and once again this is a vital pertnership for Excelsior.

Hidde Overdijk into the attack, and Barresi drives at the final ball of his first over, not over it and Tonny Staal takes the catch at slip. And in comes Heino Kuhn, playing for the first time this season, to join Walbrugh.

Ingram gets the breakthrough, Ostling not getting hold of a lofted drive and offering a shoulder-high return catch to Ingram’s left. Nick Statham in at three, and as I write that he’s gone, caught by Ingram at slip off Alex Roy. Asad Zulfiqar joins Doyle.

By the end of the powerplay Punjab have gone at five an over, Minhas on 27*, Butt 15″. Roman Harhangi on in place of Aaditt Jain, but Minhas responds by hitting him for four and then six. VOC in serious need of a wicket as Siebe van Wingerden comes into the attack.

Singh and Smal working hard to recover from the early loss of Cassidy, Malik replaced by Umar Baker from the City End, Juandre Scheepers continuing from Mulder’s End.

Rahaley drives rather loosely at Carl Mumba, bowling from the City End, and Ryan Klein’s there in the covers to take the catch. Excelsior in early trouble as Antum Naqvi joins Van Tonder in the middle.

Botha and Boendermaker race to 37 off the first five overs, but then Botha goes hard once too often, and the ball flies high to Gorlee at mid-off. He goes for 17, and in the next over Brown traps Boendermaker in front. Which brings Wes Barresi in to join Tayo Walbrugh.

Not quite the explosive start from Ostling and Doyle that we’ve become accustomed to, Ingram and Kumar on the spot for Kampong. But Doyle has driven Kumar in front of square for four, and a couple of overs later Ostling follows suit.

Ahsan Malik does what he does so often. Bowling from the City End, he sees Jack Cassidy drive him through cover point for four, but the next one’s fuller and strikes Cassidy on the pad. After a long pause for thought the umpire’s finger goes up, and he has to go. Johan Smal the new man.

Butt opens with Shoaib Minhas, but it’s his partner who has scored all ten runs from the bat so far, including two boundaries off Aaditt Jain.

Wicket at Thurlede: Alejo Nota is into the Voorburg side, and he ends his first over by getting Roel Verhagen caught at point by Udit Nashier. Raynard van Tonder in to join Sam Rahaley.

Lehan Botha takes a couple of deliveries from Josh Brown to settle, then clips him crisply wide of mid-on for four. Then hammers him back over his head and the sightscreen into the bargain. Our trusty photographer Sander Tholen is there to record it all. A single leaves Elmar Boendermaker to face one ball. Daniel Crowley from the Sportlaan End.

Lorenzo Ingram starts, bowling from the Pavilion End. Ash Ostling and Daniel Doyle each immediately off the mark, then four dots to finish the over. Shashank Kumar from the University End.

And after Boris Gorlee won the toss HBS are batting at Craeyenhout.

VRA will bat first in the Bos.

Not sure who won the toss, but Excelsior are batting at Thurlede.

Similarly, Alex Roy has asked Hermes to bat first. The good news for the hosts is that both Max O’Dowd and Scott Edwards are available and will play, while Hermes will be without Aryan Dutt. They can, on the other hand, bring in Ralph Elenbaas, who rejoins elder brother Olivier in the side.

First up: Tim de Kok has won the toss at the Hazelaarweg and invited Punjab to have a bat. Three changes for the home side, Bart Kooistra, Tom de Wift and Arthur Koppejan in for Recordon, Singh and Schoonheim, while Punjab will be without Saqib Zulfiqar and Burhan Niaz, replaced by Samir Butt and Sajjad Kamal.