Topklasse Live | Round 14 | As it Happened

Too little too late indeed for Hermes, a Singh puts Elenbaas across the rope to finish in style. HBS win by 3 wickets.

Rushmere into the attack now for the first time all season I think? A last roll of the dice pays off as Klein is caught for 7. A little late in the day though as HBS need just 3 runs now, Scholte in and a couple of singles ties the scores at the end of the 43rd.

De Mey brings up his maiden Topklasse century with a boundaty off Jabarkhail in the 37th, but then immediately departs next ball caught by Braat for 101. The wicket sparks a mini-collapse, as Del Bianco is caught and bowled by Ostling next over and then Goedeke, after a promising start taking Jabarkhail for consecutive boundaries, is caught for 19 in Ostling’s next.HBS suddenly six down and wobbling, but only 13 needed now with Kyle Klein and Navjit Singh in the middle.

Two for Nashier off Upadhyaya’s next, then they get a leg-bye off Malik while VOC appeal against Hake for leg-before. Clearly feeling he has no choice, Nashier clips the next to deep midwicket and picks out Van der Meulen. Before you start talking about dead rubbers, look how devastated Nashier is as VOC win by 9 runs.

‘There’s a blinding light in the close tonight; 13 to get and the last man in . . .’

And clips his first ball to midwicket. Sharad Hake the last man. All down to Nashier now, you’d think.

And gets the breakthrough, Abhinay caught by Shaikh for 30. The game’s back in the melting pot as Moorthy joins Nashier, who’s on 39*.

Old heads on young shoulders stuff from Nashier and Abhinay, as they continue to bat very sensibly. They’ve now added 63 together, and only 15 are required from six overs. Malik returns.

Dutt obliges, returning to remove Walbrugh, caught by Braar for 38. De Mey’s now on 83*, joined by Lehan Botha.

Four balls later Leijer holes out to deep cover, and Rotterdam win by 269 runs to become 2026 Topklasse champions!

They get past the magic 176, but then Trijzelaar, down on one knee sweeping, misses and is trapped in front by Shafiq. Teun Leijer the last man.

We could still have a tight finish at the Hazelaarweg, but at the moment Nashier and Abhinay seem in confident charge, and everything for VOC hinges on their picking up a wicket. And quickly.

Rinck van Dam into the attack for Hermes, and De Mey smacks him for six to move to 68*. By over’s end he’s on 73*, with Walbrugh on 34*, and Hermes’s need of a wicket is becoming close to desperate.

Followed swiftly by Brown, his middle stump uprooted by Tariq. He made 33, and the end can’t be far off now.

Or not: Wolfe’s resistance ends as he pulls Shafiq to Riaz in front of square and departs for 24. Crowley the new man.

Dogged resistance from Brown and Wolfe at De Diepput, and they may at least manage to get their side past the 176 they need to avoid the biggest defeat by runs in the limited-overs era.

I may have spoken a bit too soon: Nashier and Abhinay are gradually picking off the runs, and with 15 overs left, VRA need another 62. Wickets are, of course, the problem.

Fifty for De Mey, and HBS are still up with the required rate.

Pringle adds one more, then holes out to Saqib Zulfiqar at deep midwicket off Tariq. He doesn’t bother waiting to see if the catch is taken, but just departs. Mark Wolfe in to join Brown.

With not a lot of batting to come, Zaidi and Nashier were understandably taking things cautiously. Until Zaidi, on 25, attempts a lofted drive off Price and finds Fletcher at mid-off, who takes it at the second attempt. Abhinay in to join Nashier, but VOC look increasingly likely to finish their miserable season with a win.

Hikmatullah Jabarkhail gets the breakthrough, bowling Mason for 31. de Mey’s still there, batting now with skipper Tayo Walbrugh.

Tariq gets his man, Floyd caught by Gondal for a 27-ball 36. Brown now in with Pringle, who’s reached 31*.

Ethan Price has taken a hand at the Hazelaarweg, with Nidamanuru caught by Fourie for 8 and Madgwick soon following, caught by Malik without scoring. VRA definitely in a hole as Nashier joins Zaidi.

Dhanasekaran and Edwards combine to remove Croes for a run-a-ball 18, although the catch was taken at long on, not behind the stumps – not sure who the stand-in gloveman is. The national team captain does, however, get a bowl, and after much preparation Ryan Klein pulls his first ball for six through square leg, and Voorburg win by six wickets. De Leede not out on 66, from 63 deliveries.

De Mey and Mason still in charge, now on 27* and 29* respectively.

Floyd has evidently concluded that all-out attack is the way to go, with Pringle playing more circumspectly at the other end. It’s brought Sulaiman Tariq into the attack, and this pair have almost doubled the score.

And another forHoseinbaks, as cassidy, on the back foot, is bowled for 43. Teja Nidamanuru, having dropped down to six, joins Zaidi in the middle.

Fifty for De Leede, hitting Zaheri Tawhid for back-to-back boundaries. A first bowl now for debutant Dinesh Dhanasekaran, and there’s a delay while Van den Berg hands over the pads and gloves to Scott Edwards. But with only 40 needed, it’s a bit of a formality really.

HBS are not far short of the required rate at the end of the powerplay, which will be fine as long as they keep wickets in hand.

No sooner had I posted that than Banerjee, who had just hit Gondal for four, offers him a return catch, which he gratefully accepts. HCC in full collapso mode as Floyd joins Pringle. The largest winning margin of the limited-overs era, by the way, is 272.

Another for Haider, who’s bowled Worden for 7. Banerjee is joined by Tim Pringle, who may not be enjoying his return to the Topklasse a great deal.

No heroics from Smal today, as he’s trapped on the crease by Hoseinbaks, smartly caught by Shaikh, and departs for 8. And that’s the cue for drinks at the Hazelaarweg.

Kaplan goes for 58, cutting Vivaan Dhawan into the hands of Jacod at point. Noah Croes joins De Leede, who’s on 32*.

The Doyle experiment is quickly abandoned, Aryan Dutt taking over, and De Mey and Mason continue steadily. But even at Craeyenhout 277 will take some getting.

If it wasn’t already, this is turning into a day to forget for HCC: having hit those fours, Kloppenburg is trapped in from by Haider for 12, and then Staal follows, caught by Shafiq off Gondal for 1. Zac Worden and Shirsak Banerjee now together at the crease..

They’re back out at De Diepput as well, with Staal and Kloppenburg facing Haider and Gondal in the opening exchanges. They’ll have to break quite a few records here if they’re to give their side any chance at all. But back-to-back boundaries for Kloppenburg off Gondal set the right tone.

Another for Van der Meulen, as Shariz holes out to Harhangi at mid-off. Takes the single and then keeps running towards the dug-out. VRA’s hero of yesterday, Johan Smal, joins Cassidy.

Another half-century for Kaplan, as he despatches Sean Trouw over extra for six, then pulls him – a little awkwardly, it must be said – in front of square forfour. Voorburg halfway to their target already.

HBS have started their chase at Craeyenhout, Daniel Doyle surprisingly taking the new ball for Hermes, bowling to De Mey and Mason. Uneventful start, Ralph Elenbaas to bowl the second.

Roman Harhangi on from the Airport End, Padda smacking him high over cow for six, then pulling him in front of square for another. 18 from the over in total, which means that Asief Hoseinbaks is quickly into the attack from that end, with Jason van der Meulen from the other. Padda hammers him back over his head for yet another six, moving to 47 from 29, but then he edges the next through to Shaikh behind the stumps. Shariz Ahmad in at three.

Voorburg’s two most accomplished batters, Kaplan and De Leede, look as if they’re settling in, so Pierre Jacod gets the last over of the powerplay. Tidy from him, but they still pick up a couple of singles and a brace, and it may be that Kampong’s attack haas already been blunted.

Pierce Fletcher, bowling with two slips and a gully to Cassidy, produces an impeccable maiden. VOC will need a few more of those if they’re to contain VRA here.

Another one down at Maarschalkerweerd and another for Alex Roy: Cedric de Lange bowled for 9. Bas de Leede in to join Kaplan.

Sam Cassidy and Padda open for VRA as usual; Upadhyaya and Fletcher take the new ball for VOC. Nothing significant to report as yet.

Sikander holes out first ball of the last for 5. Burhan Niaz next it but they can only get a couple off the next four. Final delivery is slot though, and Niaz sends it high and straight out of the ground. 448-5 the final damage. Five short of the limited overs record.

And the Hermes innings lasts just two more balls before van Dam is run out, 277 will be the target.

Three boundaries off Pringle in the 49th takes Saqib into the seventies,and he’s only been out there about 15 minutes. 16 needed off the last for the record, Brown to bowl it.

Another down at Craeyenhout as Elenbaas is caught for a useful 28 off van Oosterom. Jabarkhail last man.

And an early breakthrough for Kampong as Levitt rather lazily pulls the fifth ball down the throat of deep midwicket. Kaplan at three

The carnage contiues, Zulfiqar sweeping the seamers now, takes Brown for four in front of square. Two balls later Musa takes six more inside-out over cover. Next ball he gets to 150 digging a full one out to long on, two is the call but he won’t get the second as the throw comes in to the keeper’s end with him sell short. 150 then from 137, and a record total for RCC. Sikander the new man.

They’re back on at Westvliet, though one imagines the hosts won’t have enjoyed the news at lunch. This game practically dead rubber too now. Levitt and de Lange out there for VCC, Roy will take the new ball.

Slog-swept six, reverse-swept four, flat square driven six, and a full toss pulled square for six more off Kloppenberg takes Saqib Zulfiqar past fifty and Rotterdam past 400. This is an absolute mauling. Musa Ahmad on a personal best 141* at the other end.

Dutt falls four runs short of a well-deserved century, meanwhile, caught by Goedeke off del Bianco for a 101 ball 96. Van Dam the new man.

Zulfiqard lifts Crowley over point for four more to take RCC past the record total at de Diepput in the limited overs era, two balls later pulls a short one square for a flat six. 17 off the over. Rotterdam’s record score under any name is 413, incidentally.

Crowley back, Riaz welcomes him by mullering a slot ball over square for six. He’s quickly into the teens, but falls next over caught in the deep mistiming one off Trijzelaar to deep Extra. Saqib Zulfiqar in with Musa now and the runs still flowing in a torrent, 23 off Trijzelaar’s next, Zulfiqar already in double figures, Ahmad on an accelerating 132* off 129

Meanwhile Navjit Singh has broken the stand, Braat caught for a 39-ball 43, and now removes Jamil in like fashion. Ralph Elenbaas in with Dutt now, who’s on 83*

So back to de Diepput, where Musa Ahmad has brought up his ton driving Kloppenberg through cover for four, which seemed to singal even greater acceleration. Gondal slog-sweeps Floyd for six more first ball of the next, watches one wide outside off, then carves the next over cover for four more. Eventually it’s a rank full toss that brings the breakthrough, Gondal top edging the pull and caught behind square. Floyd barely celebrates, understadably as that only brings Riaz to the middle, who takes them past 300 with abck-to-back fours.

Collapse complete at Westvliet too, and another five-fer for Jainul Islam. Has Duco Ohm (the younger) caught behind flashing at a short one, then last man Tahwid caught in the deep off a slower ball. Voorburg will be happy with their morning’s work, but one imagines they’ll be less happy when they hear how HCC are going. VCC will need 183 after lunch for a hope of reclaiming the title, but that hope is currently being battered over the horizon by RCC’s irrepressible run-factory…

Collapse complete at Hazelaarweg, Shariz does for Hoseinbaks turning one through him into the woodwork, then two overs later Price (down at nine today) hesitates in setting off for a single run to short third and is undone by a direct hit at the bowlers’ end by Zaidi. Next ball Upadhyaya sends up a huge top edge, Madgwick collects and he goes for a creditable rearguard 29 as VOC are bowled out for 220.

Ahmad closing in on a ton, but it’s Gondal that’s forcing the pace. Takes a knee to Floyd to sweep uppishly in front of square, shouts of catch but four is the result. Some lengthy (and one imagines colourful) words being exchanged between Floyd and Gondal, though the umpires seem to have managed to calm things down for now.

Fifty for Dutt meanwhile, his skipper still with him on a run-a-ball thirty. 70 partnership now, and it’s wrested the momentum right back in Hermes’ favour.

Islam back, and has Dhanasekaran caught in the cordon by Kaplan. Sean Trouw in, and gets Edwards on strike with a flick to leg. Width from Islam lets Edwards pierce the gap behind point, then paddle a full toss round the corner to bring up his ton. That’s as far as he’ll go though, caught on the sweep off Hatzoglou next ball.

Wickets still falling at Hazelaarweg though, Ahmad sends a wrong-un right through Malik into the stumps. Harhangi in, but a couple of overs later a bunted single toward short cover goes awry and he’s run out for 4. Hoseinbaks in.

Fifty for Dutt meanwhile, his skipper still with him on a run-a-ball thirty. 70 partnership now, and it’s wrested the momentum right back in Hermes’ favour.

Double breakthrough at Westvliet meanwhile, Hatzoglou first sneaks an overspinner under Roy’s bat to bowl the Kampong skipper for 6, then takes Dhawan’s off bail next ball. Dhanasekaran in.

Ahmad takes a knee to sweep Pringle savagely to the rope behind square, he’s into the 80s now. If the old(ish) addage “double from 30 overs with wickets in hand” holds true RCC should be on for 430+ here. The ground record of 582-8 (set back in 1913 during the timed cricket days) is probably out of reach, but the limited overs era record at de Diepput is VRA’s 355-7 back in 2008 which would probably be a disappointment from here. Another hundred on top of that and they could challenge the limited overs top-flight record.

Fourie finally falls for 105, top edged sweep off Nahier goes high, bowler thracks back to take it himself. Upadhyaya joins Malik.

Edwards still going at on or about a run a ball as he threads de Lange through the covers for four more. He moves on to 79*. Unlikely to matter given how events are unfolding over at de Diepput, but VCC will need to find a way past the Dutch captain here if they want to keep their hopes alive.

Consolidation phase over as Musa skips down to FLoyd and launches him for six over long on. Seems to be the signal for Gondal to cut loose too, takes two big sixes over the leg side off Trijzelaar in the next. Normal service resumed. Back on for a big big score.

Nidamanuru brings himself into the attack and finds immediate reward, another low return catch and Fourie loses another partner. Ahd=san Malik out to join him now.

Braat and Dutt press on, the latter clearly still happy to have a dip as he takes another six off Goedeke in the 19th. If this pair can stay together for a few overs Hermes have the makings of a score with a Mambo on the board after 21.

Fourie goes to 99 sweeping Abhinay behind square for four, then cuts the next behind point for one to bring up his second top-flight ton. Van der Meulen still there on 21*, or rather he was until just now as he pops back a return catch to Nashier off a leading edge, which the bowler delightedly recieves. Shaikh at five.

Rippon has Ingram caught long off to bring Alex Roy to the middle, fair to say Kampong have a fairly long tail hereafter. De Lange on from the pavilion end now.

That wicket has slowed things right down at de Diepput, just six runs in the last three overs as Trijzelaar puts a maiden on Musa. Floyd back at the other end now

Ostling falls one short of fifty, bowled by Merkus for a 54 ball 49. Braat in.

Fourie’s fine form continues as he steps across to cut Abhinay away for four more behind point, moving on to 92* off just 72 balls. Van der Meulen still with him on 18*.

Hundred up for Kampong too, and fifty now for Edwards as he punches Rippon’s first deliver past mid off and away to the rope for four, then cuts behind point for four more a few balls later. Ingram comparatively circumspect at the other end, having seen 23 balls for his 7*.

Fifty for Musa Ahmad, he and Minhas closing in on the club record for an opening stand, the 161 Ahmad and Riaz made against VOC under the old Punjab moniker two years ago. They won’t get there though, as I type Trijzelaar finds the wicket, Minhas back in the crease and playing across at one he might have gone forward too, pinned in front and the finger shoots up. He goes for 94 off just 53, Gondal in at three.

Ostling and Dutt’s stand passes the half century mark, Merkus and Goedeke for HBS now as Dutt brings up three figures for Hermes with a six off the former last ball of the 16th.

Fifty for fourie meanwhile, brings it up guiding Udit Nashier wide of deep third for a a couple, off just his 30th ball faced. And the hundred comes up for VOC in the next as the pair milk a few more singles off Sam Cassidy. Solid platform again for VOC.

Runs still flowing freely at de Diepput. Tim Pringle and Justin Trijzelaar the fifth and sixth bowlers stand-in skipper Kloppenburg has called upon to try to break the century stand between Ahmad and Riaz. They haven’t even managed to contain them really as Minhas skips down to Pringle to make a widish full delivery into a low full toss and flays it over long off for six. Going at nines, at this rate they could break the post-war innings total record of 455, set by VRA vs HBS three years ago.

Edwards and Jacod press on, the former espcially scoring at a good clip despite the two early wickets. Glover’s replaced Islam, still Jain at the other end and as I type it’s Jain that breaks the stand, back of a length and Jacod not in control of the shot as a miscued pull is held in the deep. Ingram at five.

Another for van Oosterom as Statham is caught for 7. Dutt in with Ostling now and opens his account with a boundary off Del Bianco next over.

Shariz Ahmad into the attack, de Kok puts him away for six over square when he drags one short, but the next is fuller, squares him up and beats the bat, into the pad and he’s deep in the crease, gone for 11. Van der Meulen in to join Fourie, who’s on 30*.

Minhas welcomes Clayton Floyd to the attack by slog-sweeping him square for six, then repeats the trick a few balls later. Goes to fifty in the next over carving Brown for back-to-back fours over behind point. 94 off the powerplay, could be in for another monster score here.

A second for Islam as O’Dowd advances down the track, flashes hard but a thick outside edge is caught on the off side. Jacod joins Edwards.

Hermes in early trouble again, Rushmere and Elenbaas both gone too, caught off Del Bianco and van Oosterom respectively. Ostling joined by Statham now, needing a partnership like yesterdays’ at least you’d think…

Rotterdam still cruising along at well over eights, assisted, it must be said, by some fairly sloppy stuff from the HCC quicks. 12 extras already and we’re only 8 overs in. Bothe bats into the twenties.

No century stand for Butt and Fourie today, Hake breaks it at 45 as he has Butt caught in the covers for 20. Tim de Kok in at three.

Early wicket at Westvliet too, where Jainul Islam has Damien van den Burg caught at extra. Edwards joins O’Dowd in the middle, Aaditt Jain shares the new ball.

Samir Butt and Francois Fourie renew their partnership at the top of the order, did fine work for VOC yesterday, albeit in vain. Sharad Hake also had an excellend day yesterday, he shares the new ball with Tharun Moorthy.

Rotterdam immediately off to a flyer, Minhas and Musa opening as usual, Brown and Crowely wayward early.

First wicket of the day falls at Craeyenhout, where Daniel Doyle is caught behind of Del Bianco in the first over. Ostling in.

VOC won the toss at Hazelaarweg and will bat first.

Kampong batting first at Westvliet, not sure who’s idea that was though.

HCC win the toss at de Diepput and will chase.

Hermes win the toss at Craeyenhout and elect to bat first. Rinck van Dam in for Sam van Giezen today. Navjit Singh in for HBS, replacing Kamran.