Topklasse Live | Round 14 | As it Happened

Some hard running gets HBS to within a dozen of the target, but no further. Ruffel holds his nerve and closes out the victory as VRA win by 12 runs

Scholte jumping across the stumps now and shows how it’s done – lapping Fletcher over the keeper for four. Looks to go down the ground next ball though, doesn’t get enough of it and gone for an entertaining 20. Boddendijk in, 19 needed off the last.

Levitt back, glanced for four second ball by new man Shahzad, three singles and then Zulfiqar pulls the last ball away square to the rope to finish things off. The crowds had long lost interest here but the title race remains alive as Punjab win by 4 wickets.

Bit of a stumble at the back end for VOC as Singh falls for 52 caught off Malik and Baker bags the wicket of Recordon before the close, but does little to delay the inevitable. Van der Meulen unbeaten on 67 off 65 as VOC win by 5 wickets.

Mason jumps across the stumps to Fletcher, who sees him going and produces a floating slow full toss into the stumps which Mason can only wave at. De Mey in.

And all over at Thurlede, Jabarkhail caught in the deep off Ralston and hopes of a repeat fixture next season remain alive as Excelsior win by 15 runs.

Shinwari not making himself any frineds here at Maarschalkerweerd. Takes Mees van Vliet for three consecutive sixes over the leg side to start the 46th. Hopes of silverware today slipping away here. And van Vliet won’t be winning any popularity contests either as he spears one down leg for two wides. Consolation wicket ends the over as Shinwari holes out to long off, but the damage has been done.

Hermes nine down as Elenbaas miscues into the off side and is caught for 32. Jabarkhail last man.

Mumba back for his last, and Shinwari’s swinging hard. Twice puts him over the midwicket rope for six to draw groans from the Kampong faithful. 43 needed from the final five.

Fifty for Monty Singh now too, Malik and Ahmadi for Sparta but van der Meulen takes the latter for six more to go to 58*. Just a matter of time now.

Klein goes, one big shot too many as he looks to take Fletcher inside-out over the cover boundary, Turmaine’s out there and Klein doesn’t bother running. Taken and gone for 59. Mason in and edges his first ball over the keeper for four.

Verhagen strikes with the last ball of his spell, Braat looking to take him over mid-wicket, thick edge comes down into the hands of long on. Woermeijer in.

Klein gets after Shariz, back to back slog-swept sixes in the 43rd. Fletcher back now.

Braat has found a solid partner in Elenbaas it seems, the Hermes skipper on 39*, Elenbaas on 25*. 31 to get in the last five. Verhagen to bowl out, Kroesen’s bowled his ten too, Ralston one left, Rahaley two, everyone else has plenty.

And cheers erupt around the bar at Kampong as the fifth wicket falls, Saqib pushing Charumbira toward extra where Croes fields, rifles in the throw and the diirect hit is enough for the umpire. Shinwari in.

Walbrugh goes four short of a ton, steps well across his stumps to Ruffel who fires it in full and straight, struck in front and gone. Scholte in.

Charumbira styrays onto the pads and is launched over deep square for six by Saqib. Eight bowlers used now by VCC but none have been the answer. 75 needed of the last 10 for Punjab. Voorburg (and Kampong) need six wickets.

Singh and van der Meulen have taken the chase in hand at Hazelaarweg, the latter’s brought up a run-a-ball fifty and the hundred p[artnership in sight.

Or will they? Fourth down as Riaz takes on a short ball from van Vliet, top edge and held in the deep on the leg side. Sikander in.

Braat’s lost another partner at Thurlede, Jamil going back to Kroesen and edging to first slip. Raplph Elenbaas in.

Kaplan into the attack, first over’s tidy enough but second ball of his next Riaz can get under one, going inside-out over cover for six. 200 up, Punjab look intent on playing spoiler today.

Fifty partnership for Singh and van der Meulen, both in the twenties and VOC well on course. Snoep and Scheepers for the visitors.

Asking rate starting to creep up at Craeynhout too, but traditionally it’s not a tough ground to hit out on when required. Wlabrugh well set and into the 80s now, Klein still feeling his way into the innings on 10 off 20-odd. Still Thakur and Nidamanuru for VRA.

First hint of scoreboard pressure is swiftly banished as both bats put Klein away for six over midwicket in the 33rd. Vna Vliet back at the other end.

Hundred up for Hermes as Jamil pushes Kroesen through the covers for a single. Slow going though. Still Verhagen at the other end.

Game very much still in the balance at the Zomercomplex, asking rate up over sevens now but plenty of batting to come. Nota into the attack.

De Kok falls short of fifty again, caught and bowled Baker for 46. Van der Meulen in with Singh now.

Edward breaks the stand, taking Elenbaas’ off stump with the first ball of the 31st. Jamil in.

Nidamanuru brings himself on and it’s SGW time again, rank full toss to Del Bianco fourth ball is pulled into the hands of Shariz out on the leg side. Kyle Klein in.

Cheers here at Kampong as Punjab lose their third, Gondal aiming a big swipe at Mumba and bottom-edging into his sttumps. Saqib Zulfiqar at five.

Another drop over the rope for six? Klein’s certainly selling it as Riaz pulls a drag down away over square, hands on heads, then hips. Malik back at the other end.

Braat and Elenbaas continue to frustrate Excelsior, 30-odd stand for the sixth wicket so far. First chance in a while as Elenbaas walks down at Niels Etman and blocks, Etman gathers swiftly and throws down the stumps as Elenbaas scrambles to get back – successfully it seems. Wasn’t much init though.

Walbrugh goes to fifty stroking Shariz out to long on for one, and hundred up for HBS too. Thakur from the other end now.

Manminder Singh into the attack and strikes first ball to remove Oberholzer for 8. Monty Singh at four, de Kok on 44*.

Ahmad looks to be suffering from a spot of cramp ot the like out there, pronounced limp in his running at the minute. His solution is simply to hit boundaries, carves Charumbira over point for four and then six to start the 21st, back to back fours off van Vliet in the next. The latter’s luck hasn’t improved, at least a couple of uncontrolled edges in this spell haven’t gone to hand, frustrating for the bowler and the denizens of Maarschalkerweerd both. Klein back at the other end, and strikes third ball! Ahmad had been looking increasingly unconfortable but can go get some attention on the sidelines now, leading edge into the on side and caught for 73. Riaz in at four.

Rebuilding the order of the day at Thurlede too, as Elebaas and Braat dig in. Ralston returns for the hosts.

Fifty for Ahmad pulling van Vliet over the square rope for six, not in control of the shot though and judging from the bowler’s reaction I’m guessing a catching chance was spilled over the rope out there. Hundred up for Punjab too, and the trophy that’s waiting for Kampong here may yet have to go back in the box…

Walbrugh and Del Bianco rebuilding for the Crows as the latter cuts Singh away for four through point. Turmaine on at the other end now.

First down at Hazleaarweg, Jannet run out for 26 looking for a sneaky second. Obverholzer joins Tim de Kok, who’s on 36*.

Van Vliet gets the first breakthrough, Minhas down the track to him but can only spoon it up high, Mumba jogs in from mid on to take the catch above his eyes. Gondal at three, Ahmad two away from fifty. Charumbira still from the other end.

Steady stuff still from Jannet and de Kok, fifty partnership up, Snoep cycles through his options, himself and Tom Hoornweg looking for a way through at the minute.

Verhagen turns to his own left arm slow, and rewards hi faith in himself with a wicket in his second over, Zulfiqar miscuing high into the off side and caught for 21. Elenbaas in, and two balls later Ostling goes too, looping leading edge out toward mid off and Verhagen tracks across to take it himself. Braat in with his side in trouble.

Vikram Singh into the attack, tidy start but when he drops short Walbrugh pounces, pulled hard in front of square to the rope. And a double change, Shariz Ahmad coming on from the other end.

Ahmad and Minhas continue to make progress in the face of some deeply unthreatening bowling. Patient Charumbira takes over from his countryman.

Steady progress still for Jannet and de Kok, Ahsan Malik into the attack.

Another for Fletcher, this time it’s Boendermaker tucked up on the pull and the top edge comes down for Zaidi. Still Ruffel from the other end.

Another down at Thurlede, as Kothari walks too far across his stumps and clean bowled by Ralston looks like. Dutt in, but doesn’t last long. Looks to put Rahaley over the rope at long on but can’t clear the man on the boundary. Ostling in.

Malik’s trhoubles continue, sixth wide outside off and then dumped over long off by Ahmad for six. Mumba on from the other end, maiden from him to start and beats Minhas’ bat a couple of times too, but still no wicket. Levitt takes over from Malik, and Minhas helps a short ball on leg over fine leg for four first up, then three balls later down leg again, deflects off the batter’s butt for four leg byes. Solid start so far.

Comparatively quiet start at Hazelaarweg where Scott Jannet and Tim de Kok are opening for the hosts. Ahmadi and Scheepers share the new ball.

Big wicket at Thurlede as Rahaley has Doyle-Calle well caught in the covers by Gijs Kroesen. Kothari at three.

Early strike at Craeyenhout as Fletcher gets the in-form Botha, rushed on the pull and the top edge loops up into the leg side where Ruffel takes the catch. Walbrugh joins Boendermaker.

All eyes on the Zomercomplex now, where Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas have started out in pursuit of the 298 needed to rain on Kampong’s parade. Offspin and gentle medium pace to start as Usman Malik and Ryan Klein open the bowling. The somewhat wayward Malik offers Ahmad too much width and is cut up over point for four, follows up with a wide further outside off. Tidy from Klein’s first, but Malik’s next is no better, Ahmad puts him away through point again, more wides, sloppy startfrom Voorburg.

And all over here bar the partying. Yash Patel into the attack and Ingram’s not impressed with the part timer. Three consecutive fours, couple of dots, finishes it off with a textbook drive to the rope at long off. Kampong ten wickets from the title, but they need Voorburg top take them. Kampong win by 7 wickets, but will have to wait and see about the silverware…

They’re back on at Thurlede, Asad Zulfiqar and DDC opening, Ralston and Rahaley share the new ball.

Bangs doing his best to give us catching practice here, Leijer still the victim. Too long this time though and over my head onto the clubhouse roof. Next is catching practice for mid on, who spurns a high chance. Beer tent is the next target, six more and the catch put down there too. Finally one goes to hand now, deep square holds on. Show’s over. He’s back in the hutch for a 20-ball 36. Ingram in with just 14 to get.

Van den Berg warming to his work now as he clips Crowley off his pads away through fine leg to the rope, then busts out a classic front foot drive wide of mid off. Next over Bangs gets in on the act, lofts Leijer straight, high and long, over the sight screen and just the wrong side of the practice nets for you humble correspondent to attempt and probably drop the catch.

Berry’s bucaneering innings comes to and end as he shanks another big heave off Leijer high into the off side, where Crowley takes a straightforward catch. He goes for 28 off 20. Bangs in at four with the hosts already halfway home. Smattering of dots, a wide, then he’s off the mark pulling hard in front of square for four, brining more cheers from the busy beer tent.

The hosts are one down here, Max O’Dowd nicking off to Crowley in the third over, but that’s done little to damped the festive feeling. Damien van den Berg is joined by Lane Berry, who guides his first ball wide of the cordon for four through third. Next over Brown loses his radar entirely, four wides including one that runs to the rope, and when the last delivery finally arrives Berry pulls it away over the square rope and the road. 19 off it. And another productive over for the 5th as Berry takes Crowley for back to back fours. Teun Leijer takes over from Brown.

Klesse, and Ahmadi take it deep, adding 56 for the seventh wicket before Ahmadi’s run out for 27. And although Klesse’s run out as well, for 71, Sparta have given VOC a significant chase as well.

A Michelle for Rossouw as Turmaine drives a full toss square to Walbrugh, but Ruffell twice smacks an increasingly disgruntled Botha for six, over midwicket and then over long off. Kyle Klein gets him, though, as he tries to hit him into the far distance and has his stumps rearranged. Five for 33 for Rossouw.

Mumba thumps four sixes before he’s caught by Minhas off Musa for 28 (off 10 deliveries), Tehzeeb returns to remove Patient Charumbira for a 4-ball 10, and Usman Malik and Ryan Klein see them to as near as dammit 300. Punjab love batting at the Zomercomplex, but this is a major ask.

And a fourth, Ralston chipping Braat to mid-off and caught by Daniel Doyle. Karson Edward the last man, but Gijs Kroesen plays on to Olivier Elenbaas, and Excelsior have gone from 126 for two to 174 all out, Braat finishing with four for 33.

Wickets tumble at the death at Craeyenhout as well: Rossouw gets Gouge leg-before for 36, then Viraj Thakur’s run out after a mix-up with Zaidi. Next ball, Zaidi goes too, edging to slip, where Klein takes a very sharp catch. Leon Turmaine in to join Peter Ruffell.

Fifty for Klesse, but he’s lost Singh, caught by Aaditt Jain off De Kok. Khalid Ahmadi the new man.

Late wickets for Punjab, but 202 for one isn’t a bad place to collapse from. Kaplan, on 53, walks past one from Minhas and is stumped by Fawad Shinwari. Melville slog-sweeps Minhas for six, but then he doesn’t get all of a lofted drive and Shahzad runs a long way to his left to take the catch. Carl Mumba in to join Ryan Klein.

Another for Braat, Kroesen getting one that rears at him nastily, and he can only fend it to Asad Zulfiqar behind the stumps. His brother Gijs is the new man.

Shariz and Gouge push on, but then Shariz lofts De Mey into the covers and is another to head for the dugout before the catch is completed, this time by Rossouw. Ibaad Zaidi the new man.

Arnav Jain returns to bowl Malik, but Klesse’s on 44*, batting with Manminder Singh.

Young De Lange another to miss out on a century, top-edging Minhas to Sikander Zulfiqar at midwicket and departing for 84. Then Musa chips in, Croes getting under one as Voorburg look to press on and caught by Mohsin Riaz. Melville in to join Kaplan, who’s on 47*.

Fightback is certainly the order of the day at Thurlede, where Rahaley has attempted a massive swing off Jabarkhail and been castled. Then Niels Etman lofts Kothari to Ralph Elenbaas at long off and Braat returns to bowl Rens van Troost. Joost Kroesen’s still there, batting now with Jason Ralston. But Hermes are now in charge.

Bangs finishes it off, Leijer caught behind by Van den Berg, Patel remaining not out on 28. Bangs has two for 7, Kumar finishes on three for 18. How many overs, do we think, will Kampong need? Or will HCC’s attack manage a remarkable fightback?

One brings two for Boendermaker as Smal, having got to 89, tries to pull him, finds he’s too cramped, and holes out to Botha at deep mid-on. Then Rossouw removes Nidamanuru, who gets under a drive and is caught by . . . Boendermaker. Patrick Gouge in to join Shariz Ahmad.

I don’t know what gremlins got into the works between Rotterdam and Sydney, but it seems I owe a heartfelt apology to the scorers at the Hazelaarweg. There is, after all, a scorecard, and I can now inform you that Kyle Klesse and Ahsan Malik are at the crease for Sparta, Steenbergen having made 22, Scheepers 26, Boorer 24, and debutant Ben 9. Two wickets for Siebe van Wingerden, one apiece for Roman Harhangi and Tim de Kok. A thousand mea culpas to Arjen Smelt!

HCC stagger to three figures, but not before losing Crowley, who gets a lifting delivery from Bangs and can only slice it to Kumar at deep third man. Last man Teun Leijer in with Patel.

The spin attack continues with Musa and Shoaib Minhas, Punjab really getting through their overs, but De Lange’s on 81* now and Kaplan has moved effortlessly to 29*. This is a mood from Voorburg we haven’t seen for a while. And Croes and Henry Melville still to come.

Really, Van Tonder must be wondering what he has to do to make a Topklasse century. Today he’s played what is probably his best innings so far, but on 83 he drives Dutt to short cover, looks for the run, is sent back, and is stranded as Ash Ostling flings at the stumps. He gives an angry gesture, but the single was never really there. And before I can finish this post Ostling intervenes again, taking a very sharp low catch at straight, shortish mid-off from a full-blooded drive by Stan van Troost off Kothari. Hermes getting back into this as Joost Kroesen joins Rahaley.

Klein finally into the attack, bowling Barresi-esque off breaks today, but it’s Boendermaker who gets the breakthrough, uprooting Cassidy’s off stump as he goes for a mighty thrash as misses. He goes for 70, and Nidamanuru joins Smal, on 73*.

Akhil Gopinath joins the party, trapping Wolfe in front and bringing Daniel Crowley in to join Patel.

A half-century for De Lange with a mighty blow over long on off Saqib, and then Levitt goes after Shahzad, a towering six over midwicket. At last, though, Punjab get the breakthrough, Levitt, on 73, holing out to the dependable Musa Ahmad at long on. Enter Gavin Kaplan. My old mentor, Ron Halcombe, used to moan about bowling all day to Woodfull and Ponsford, finally getting one of them and seeing Jack Ryder come in at three. This is not dissimilar.

Dutt returns, Van Tonder driving him sweetly through mid-off for four. The rest of the over’s tidy enough, but the South African’s on 82* now. Jabarkhail’s bowling from the City End, with Hermes in serious need of a wicket.

Kloppenburg tries to hit Ingram over long off, gets under it, and knows he’s gone long before Kumar completes the catch. Next over, from Pierre Jacod, Hidde Overdijk is bowled, seemingly off his pad. And Kampong are again on the march as Yash Patel joins Wolfe. Could it all be over by tonight?

Still no detail of batting and bowling from the Hazelaarweg, and no livestream either. If they don’t care, you might ask, why should we?

There’s a bit of concern about the state of the mat level with the return crease at the Sportlaan End, but it’s not likely to interfere with play. Ditto the state of the ball, but that will clearly have an effect. Smal, who’s overtaken his partner, drives De Mey back straight to reach his fifty, and then Cassidy guides Elmar Boendermaker to the third man boundary to reach his. A couple of singles and the stand’s worth 100, and VRA are firmly in charge.

Spin from both ends, Khurram Shahzad paired with Saqib now, but Levitt and De Lange continue, now on 60* and 45*.

That’s as far as it goes for Gorlee, who plays an awkward shot against Ingram and is caught by Edwards (yes, Edwards) at mid-on. I feel I should apologise to Boris. Mark Wolfe to the crease the other side of a drink.

Fifty for Van Tonder, brought up with another splendid cover drive for four. He’s giving Excelsior a very promising platform, with Rahaley another content to play a supporting role.

They’ve had a drink at Craeyenhout as well, with Cassidy (37*) and Smal (32*) now well and truly set. No Barresi today, but it’s notable that Kyle Klein has not yet been given a bowl.

Things are looking distinctly glum for Punjab, as the competition’s most consistent opening partnership – when they get to bat together – approach three figures. Levitt goes past fifty, from 46 deliveries, as he goes down on one knee to loft Saqib Zulfiqar over midwicket, with De Lange on 36*. And it’s time for a drink.

Gorlee, now on 32*, has made more runs today than he has on grass wickets all season, and he’s doing most of the scoring as Kloppenburg’s content to keep him company. Lorenzo Ingram’s on from the Pavilion End now.

Nothing to add, really.

Etman pulls Braat for four, but two balls later the Hermes skipper gets his man, Etman trying to flick to leg and trapped in front for 28. Van Tonder’s gone on to 428, as he’s joined by Sam Rahaley.

Benno Boddendijk and Julien de Mey into the attack, but Cassidy and Smal continue unperturbed, on 28* and 22* respectively now.

A third for Kumar, Oliver White driving expansively and snaffled by Lachlan Bangs at extra. Teun Kloppenburg to join Gorlee, who’s on 9*.

Levitt spoils Tariq’s figures, taking two fours and a six, the latter hammered high over midwicket, off his fifth over. Sajjad Kamal on for Tehzeeb, De Lange driving his first delivery back straight for four. Tariq continues.

Etman has a (quite literal) slice of luck when he edges Dutt past slip and down to the third man boundary, but when Braat replaces Elenbaas Van Tonder lofts him for six over midwicket before driving him gloriously through the cover for four. He’s raced to 29* off 16, with Etman on 21*. Sahil Kothari on now from the City End.

Cassidy and Smal recovering from the early loss of Singh, with Cassidy the more aggressive and Smal concentrating on defence. Still Botha and Rossouw with the ball.

Another one gone at Maarschalkerweerd: Staal edges Nana to slip, where Roy leaps to his right to take another very good catch. We maybe haven’t paid enough attention to the quality of Kampong’s catching as a factor in their elevated position, but that’s two beauties in the first half-hour today.

Not a lot to tell you from the Hazelaarweg, except that whoever’s opening for Sparta have managed to get through the first seven overs unscathed.

Another steady start for Voorburg, with Tariq as parsimonious as usual and Tehzeeb rather more expensive. Just six runs off Tariq’s first four overs as Levitt and De Lange build a platform.

Wicket at Thurlede, Verhagen driving airily at Elenbaas and hearing the clatter of stumps and bails. Raynard van Tonder in at three, and he goes after Elenbaas, taking fours over midwicket and through the covers before pulling him effortlessly for six over square leg.

A very big wicket at Craeyenhout, where after flashing Lehan Botha over cover for four to get off the mark and then skying him towards midwicket for a couple, Vikram Singh falls to Jayden Rossouw, pinned in front for 7. Singh’s disappointing run continues, as John Smal joins Jack Cassidy in the middle.

A sensational start at Maarschalkerweerd, where after a slightly messy over from Kertan Nana from the University End, Shashank Kumar claims two wickets with successive deliveries: first Josh Brown gets an inside edge onto his off stump, and then Shirsak Banerjee falls to a brilliant leg-side catch by Damien van den Berg off the first ball he receives. Boris Gorlee in to join Tonny Staal.

Sebastiaan Braat won the toss at Thurlede and put the hosts in. Olivier Elenbaas starts from the City End, straying onto Tim Etman’s pads with his third delivery and seeing the ball turned behind square for a couple. Two balls later Etman drives fluently to the cover boundary. Aryan Dutt from the Chalet End, Roel Verhagen tucking his first ball to square leg for a single. The rest of the over to right-hander Etman is uneventful.

Noah Croes won the toss at the Zomercomplex and elected to bat, Michael Levitt and Cedric de Lange opening. Tehzeeb Haider takes the new ball from the Equestrian Centre End, and Levitt lofts his third delivery a little uncertainly but safely over backward point for four. Otherwise, mostly well-directed dots. Sulaiman Tariq to bowl the second.

Sparta will be batting at the Hazelaarweg, Tim de Kok having won the toss. For the visitors Asher Ben makes the big step up from Sparta’s fourth team to the dizzying heights of the Topklasse.

At Craeyenhout Teja Nidamanuru has called correctly and elected to have a bat. He and Patrick Gouge are back from international duty, as is Kyle Klein for the Crows.

First news from the middle: Alex Roy has won the toss at Maarschalkerweerd and given HCC first use of the pitch. Edwards and O’Dowd back for Kampong; HCC welcome Hidde Overdijk back their ranks.