Topklasse Live | Round 15 | As it Happened

The first ball disappears through midwicket for four. Eales gets a hand on the second, driven hard back straight. The third is driven just on the on side, and it goes all the way! That, my friends, is one of the greatest Topklasse matches I have ever seen, and Punjab win by one wicket.

Too straight from Fletcher, turned off his pads by Shinwari for four. Then a single. Kamal does everything possible to edge one, narrowly failing, then removes his gloves to rub his sweaty hands on the turf. The tension is palpable. Then Fletcher gets him with his last, stumps flying in all directions. Eight still needed, or seven for a tie, and last man Sulaiman Tariq comes to the crease. But Shinwari will be on strike.

Eales from the Equestrian Centre End, distinctly unimpressed when a wide’s called. Apart from that it’s four singles, and Punjab need 13 from the last three. The thought occurs that we might have to do all this again next Saturday . . .

Shinwari flicks at Fletcher, and there’s a spirited by unduly appeal from cover. But next ball disaster strikes, as he plays into the covers, Minhas comes looking for a single, is sent back, and his beaten by Smal’s direct hit. That might well be it, as Minhas goes for 106.

Fletcher drops short, Zulfiqar pulls, straight into the hands of Eales at midwicket. The trap worked, and this could scarcely be a more thrilling semi-final. Shinwari in to join Minhas.

Zulfiqar goes back to hoist Floyd for six over cow, just eluding the man out there, judging by the bowler’s reaction. A single keeps him on strike to Fletcher, with 18 needed now.

Seven off Floyd’s next, four of them from a Niaz hoick over midwicket. Then he lofts Eales much more convincingly over cow for six, reducing the tension considerably for the home side. But Eales gets his man, as he cuts uppishly at a lifting delivery and is caught by keeper Prince. Skipper Sikander Zulfiqar the new man, Minhas on 105*.

Six for Shahzad when Eales returns, but he gets his man with the final delivery as the batter tries to turn him to leg and is struck on the pad. He made 26, and Burhan Niaz joins Minhas with 45 required from eight overs.

There’s more animation in some of the appealing out there than there is in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, but Shahzad has weathered it successfully. And there’s the century for Minhas, his third in the top flight and perhaps his most important. Still a lot of work to be done, though.

The whole pitch is in deep shadow now, and there’s a definite hint of autumn in the air. Just a single off Floyd’s over, but Minhas glances the first ball of Fletcher’s next to the fine leg boundary to move to 96*. By its end he’s on 98*, and Punjab need 61 from the final ten.

Fletcher bowls a maiden to Shahzad, and Punjab need 69 from the last 12 overs, with Minhas now on 91*. Smal still has plenty of options: Fletcher has two left, Floyd four, and Eales and Shariz five apiece. Floyd will bowl the next.

Leijer is smartly stumped by Croes off Boissevain, and then Doram slices Van Vliet to Molenaar at backward point. Voorburg win by 49 runs, and keep their hopes of back-to-back titles alive!

Saqib has gone, his off stump uprooted by the returning Fletcher for 22. Punjab still have a lot of work to do, but Minhas is on 84* now, and is joined by Khurram Shahzad.

And three balls later it’s all over. Hoseinbaks swings Singh away for four, but then he, too, is trapped in front, and Sparta win by 9 runs.

There may not be much riding on it, but it’s going down to the wire at the Hazelaarweg. Just when Fourie and Schoonheim appear to have pulled off a remarkable victory, Manminder Singh returns to trap Fourie in front for 43. 14 still required as last man Hoseinbaks joins Schoonheim.

Even closer now, as Boissevain takes a stunning one-handed catch, low to his right, as Patel drives him back hard. Leijer in to join Doram.

. . . and he picks up a wicket! It’s a crucial one, too, Wiggins reaching for a wide one and guiding it into the hands of Klein at point. He goes for 58, and HCC’s season seems very close to its end now. Daniel Doram the new man.

Wiggins goes past fifty, but he’s lost another partner, Overdijk top-edging Boissevain out to at deep mid-on, and departing for 10. Ten overs left, 73 needed, and Patel in to join Wiggins. Van Vliet returns.

Twenty to go at ‘t Zomercomplex as well, with Punjab needing 99. They, however, have seven wickets in hand, and Minhas is there on 81* at better than a run a ball. Saqib has moved to 20* at the other end.

Fourie and Schoonheim have added 24, and to be fair, Jelte Schoonheim wouldn’t be the last man you’d pick for a situation like this. There are still 20 overs to go, and VOC only need another 36. But Sparta only need two wickets, and if they can pick up one of these two within the next 20 runs or so, they’d still be strong favourites.

Floris de Lange succeeds Levitt; Wiggins plants him over midwicket for six, but when the left-handed Crowley tries to follow suit the ball travels further skywards than it does towards the boundary, and Molenaar is under it when it descends. Advantage definitely with Voorburg, as Overdijk joins Wiggins, who’s on 38*.

Another half-century for Minhas. He’s on 55* at this point, Saqib on 10*, and Punjab are pretty much up with the required rate. Shariz switches to the Equestrian Centre End.

Even by VOC’s standards this is a pretty dramatic collapse: Aaditt Jain edges Umar Baker to Fraser at slip, and two balls later Harhangi does the same, surprised by extra bounce in his case. VOC have gone from 95 without loss to 141 for eight as Schoonheim joins Fourie.

Klein’s bowling spin now, right on the spot as he restricts Wiggins to a single. Still Levitt from the Van Hogenhoucklaan End, bowling the last of his ten. HCC need 117 from 18 overs.

Riaz takes a liking to Shariz Ahmad, hitting him for four and then pulling him through cow for six, then another four. But again Floyd exacts revenge, as Riaz hoists him high but not particularly handsome, down the throat of Fletcher at deep square leg. A lot depends on Minhas now, on 47* as Saqib Zulfiqar joins him.

From ‘back in the game’ to ‘firmly in charge’ in two moves: Ahmadi returns to bowl De Kok with a splendid yorker, and then demolishes Arnav Jain’s stumps with another next ball. VOC tottering now, with Aaditt Jain in to join Fourie.

Having belted him for six in his previous over, Staal goes back to Levitt and is bowled for 46. This doesn’t look like a wicket where you can afford to go onto the back foot. Crowley joins Wiggins with the game now in the balance.

Minhas lofts Turmaine for six over long on, but Floyd gets Musa in the next, pulling him hard to Nashier at square leg and departing for 30. Minhas still there on 44*, Riaz in at four.

Bettelheim smacks Scheepers for six over deep extra, but then he chases a lifting, wideish delivery and Mudford moves to his right to take the catch. Sparta definitely back in the game, as De Kok joins Fourie.

Ryan Klein returns from the Scoreboard End and Levitt switches to the other, and at the halfway point HCC need another 140. Voorburg’s bowlers are not making scoring easy, but Staal has battled his way to 38* from 71 in an uncharacteristically watchful innings, Wiggins now on 18*.

Spin from both ends at ‘t Zomercomplex now, with Floyd on from the Equestrian Centre End and Turmaine from the other. Minhas is on 35*, Musa on 30*, as Punjab are making steady progress.

Sparta get another, Scheepers again as McKenzie comes down the pitch swinging and gets a tickle through to Mudford. Fourie joins Bettelheim with another VOC implosion possibly in the offing. And there’s no Van der Meulen in the side today, either.

Quick, meanwhile, have booked their grand final place, Vierling taking the winning single and finishing on 80*. Kampong will need to get past Salland now, as Quick win by eight wickets.

Wickets at the Hazelaarweg: first Recordon, on 43, gets a leading edge off Scheepers, back now from the Airport End, and is caught by Ferguson at deepish point. Then Manminder Singh comes into the attack, and Schierhout lofts his first ball out to Hoornweg at long off. He goes for 43, and VOC have to start again. They’re halfway to their target, though.

Edwards has a twirl from the Pavilion End, but with Vierling now on 69* and Stokkers on 9*, Quick need just 16 more for a famous victory as they take a drink at Maarschalkerweerd.

Gorlee goes for 31, lofting Nota out to Molenaar on the midwicket boundary. Staal’s still there on 26*, joined now by Banerjee. Who doesn’t stay long, swinging across the line at Philippe Boissevain and caught in front. That’s the cue for a drink, after which Wiggins joins Staal.

Singh and Hake on for VRA now, but a very cautious Minhas and a rather more enterprising Musa are building a useful stand as they chase the more testing target of the day.

Roy turns to Max O’Dowd’s off spin from the University End, with Jacod on from the other. But Vierling and Mol continue, Vierling now on 45*. But then Saurabh Zalpuri gets the breakthrough, Mol, on 26, bowled by his second delivery. Only 51 needed now, though, as Stokkers joins Vierling.

Schierhout and Recordon likewise continuing to prosper, on 22* and 34* respectively now, with Baker and Hoornweg operating in tandem.

HCC seem well set at the end of the initial powerplay, Staal and Gorlee both looking comfortable, Aleja Nota on now from the Van Hogenhoucklaan End.

Breakthrough for VRA: Vandiar clips Eales airily off his pads, and Rasool takes the catch at square leg. Big wicket, that, in more senses than one, as Musa Ahmad joins Minhas in the middle.

Quick are ticking along at Maarschalkerweerd, Vierling now on 25*. But there’s a slight delay as the pitch receives some groundsmanly attention at the Pavilion End before play can resume.

Having claimed his wicket, Klein is quickly replaced by Levitt from the Scoreboard End. The runs, though, are coming from the other, where Van Vliet’s first four overs have cost 27, Gorlee moving briskly along to 14* and outscoring Staal.

No alarums so far at the Hazelaarweg, Schierhout (not Fourie) and Recordon successfully negotiating the first five overs from Scheepers and Ahmadi.

Punjab’s chase is under way as well, the now-accustomed pairing of Vandiar and Minhas facing Fletcher’s opening over from the Equestrian Centre End. Eales to bowl the second.

Voorburg have grabbed a wicket as well, Leonard chopping a Klein delivery into the base of his stumps. Boris Gorlee in at three.

It’s Kumar who gets it, Crudeli pulling him a little awkwardly (to avoid the obvious pun) to Van den Berg at midwicket and departing for 24. He drops his bat in disgust, but is succeeded at the crease by Geert Maarten Mol.

HCC have started their chase at De Diepput, Staal and Leonard opening as usual, against Van Vliet and Klein, the latter bowling medium pace from the Scoreboard End. Staal gets off the mark by pulling a Van Vliet bouncer hard and high behind square for six.

Crudeli and Vierling have started at a fair old clip against Jacod, Kumar and Nana, each reaching 19* and forcing Roy to bring himself on from the Pavilion End to try to get a much-needed breakthrough. Vierling going a a run a ball, Crudeli taking more of the strike and content to play a supporting role.

They’re coming back out at the Hazelaarweg, Scheepers starting from the Pavilion End to Francois Fourie, who opens with Pieter Recordon.

How better to start my shift than with a triple-wicket maiden by my old friend, former international Mangesh Panchal? He starts by getting Pruss caught by Nigam at deepmidwicket as he tries to hit the winning six, has Lasi caught in the covers by Akbari next ball, and then completes the over with the wicket of Reinder Lubbers, caught by Nigam at square leg. Suicidal stuff by Salland, but it all comes too late as in Stoman’s next Saqibullah Usmanzai hits the winning four to end Bloemendaal’s challenge. Salland win by four wickets.

Shariz loses another partner as Turmaine top-edges a pull to midwicket, and then Ben Fletcher tries to put Sikander out of the ground over midwicket but can only send it straight up for the bowler to collect. Shariz has seen enough. Next over he laces Kamal over long off for a quite remarkable six first ball, then pulls him over the square boundary from a kneeling position. Looks to go again next ball, but doesn’t quite connect and it’s held on the square rope. He goes for 83 having taken VRA to 265 with three balls unused. Not far off par you’d say but a cracking knock from Shariz to get them there.

They’re back on at Utrecht, Crudeli and Vierling opening for Quick, Jacod and Kumar share the new ball.

Acelan Pruss has taken Salland to the brink of victory at Donkerelaan meanwhile, he’s on 27*, Elam Barathi with him.

Sparta subsided pretty quickly after the Scheepers dismissal, all out for exactly 200 in the end, Harhangi sealing his five-fer yorking last man Tom Hoornweg to finish with figures of 5-33.

Boissevain takes Overdijk for consecutive fours to start the 48th, but Overdijk nicks him off two balls later. Nota drives his first through the covers for four more, but that’s the last boundary to be struck. Next over he comes back to take Nota’s middle stump and Voorburg are all out for 241.

Shariz runs out Nashier at the end of the 45th looking to retain strike after bunting the ball for Sikander to swoop on in his follow-through, but arguably the percentage play. Turmaine inwith him now and they take nine off Kamal in the 46th, Shariz on 62* with four overs to go.

Meanwhile ACC have wasted no time at all putting this match, and indeed both clubs’ seasons, out of their respective miseries. Potdar top-scores with 34*, the match ending with a top-edged pull that’s shelled at midwicket as they jog a single while ball-watching. A fitting end you’d say as ACC win by 6 wickets.

HCC still pegging back Voorburg at the back end with regular wickets, Flip Boissevain still there with a well-earned 30* but it’s number 10 Mees van Vliet there with him now. Three overs to try to push up toward 250. Overdijk with ball in hand.

Speaking of shaving some off the total, crucial wicket for Punjab as VRA’s set pair look to start hitting out. Saml takes Kamal downtown for his first six of the innings, but two balls later another aggressive swipe leads to an outside edge held in the slips. He goes for 86, and next over new man Floyd is clean bowled by Sikander Zulfiqar. Nashier in with Shariz now.

Scheepers looking increasingly assured now, takes Bettlelheim for three successive boundaries as he suddenly races past fifty. Balwantsingh is pinned LBW by Hoseinbaks in the next, but Scheepers presses on. Oh but not much further, because as I type he’s caught behind off an inside edge for 68. Baker and Singh for the last ten, Scheepers dismissal will have shaved a fair few off the total you’d think.

Century partnership between Smal and Shariz now, and a very handy time for it to come too. The visitors will still need to find some acceleration at bthe back end if they’re to post something close to par though. Niaz back into the attack.

Bloemendaal’s last pair managed another 8 runs before succumbing, and Salland are already off in pursuit. Machiavello and Talha Khan opening.

Sure enough Brand wraps it up in his next. Kampong will have to defend 155 if they’re to host the final, or even be sure of playing in it…

Session before Lunch and ACC have racked up fifty already courtesy Rahil Ahmed and Shreyas Potdar.

De Lange’s long vigil ends venturing a sweep at Wiggins, top edge goes high and he’s caught for 44. Two Boissevains in the middle now, and a platform set if they can capitalise.

Edwards’ lone struggle to drag Kampong up to a hlaf-decent total continues. Barring a needless run-out at the other end and a couple of hopeful LBW he’s looked in control. Oh until now. Well you can’t do much about that. Full and straight from Brand and Edwards nails a lofted drive back over his head, except Brand somehow contrives to pluck it out of the air one-handed. Then does a little dance. Fair enough too. Edwards goes for 82 and with him Kampongs hopes of anything close to 200. Zalpuri last man.

Mudford does get to fifty, but not much further as he dances past one from Hoseinbaks that grips and turns past the swing, stumped for 51. Sardha chops Hingorani on soon after and then a second stumping as Fraser is done by Hoseinbaks too. VOC right back in it. Balwantsingh joins Scheepers, who’s in the thirties now.

Excelsior are indeed a man short today, someone fell ill at the last minute we’re told…

Smal and Shariz have calmed things down at the Zomercomplex with a composed half-century stand meanwhile, dragging the visitors back into a decent position. Spin at both ends now, Musa and Minhas for Punjab.

Bloemendaal meanwhile have quietly collapsed while I wasn’t looking. Three for Malikzai including a two-in-two, and both Gopinath and Lubbers have added another too. Bloemendaal nine down but commendably batting on, Samuel and Akbari last pair.

Klein’s adventurous knock comes to an end, having taken Wiggins for another straight six he finally holes out to long off for 67 off 53. Molenaar in, but next over falls victim to a horrible yes-no-mix up and ends up flat on his back in the middle of the track as Doram takes the bails. Flip Boissevan in with de Lange now, the latter having ground out 25 runs off 60-odd.

Kampong continue to collapse around Edwards, who may run out of partners before he gets to fifty. He’s five runs away with three partners to come at this point, Tim Versteegh having cleaned up Alex Roy and Tushar Sharma now caught off Keppel..

Collapse continues at ‘t Loopveld, Stan van Troost holes out to long on off Potdar and then Verhagen, having taken him for six over midwicket the ball before, picks out mid off in Potdar’s next. Ralston in, and Ralston out. Four for Kothari as another catch is held in the deep. Oh and they’re walking off. Excelsior certainly batting like they didn’t really want to be there so good chance they have turned up with ten men today. Very last game of the season thing to do…

Over at Hazelaarweg meanwhile Mudford has shrugged off the loss of Latif and seems to have found some of the form he showed in the T20 comp. Took a while to get going but closing in on fifty now at almost a run a ball. Scheepers in with him.

Well Voorburg may be in a precarious position but Klein looks determined to continue making his case as a hitter, takes a lovely straight six off Leijer, then a less convincing edge over the keeper for four off Overdijk next over, then two balls later a much cleaner connection takes the ball out of the ground entirely over midwicket. Doram comes into the attack.

Kampong’s hole only getting deeper too as Jacod is given LBW to Sheahan. Alex Roy in with Edwards and fair to say Kampong’s hopes of a home final rest squarely on the Dutch skipper’s shoulders now. He’s on 34* off fifty or so, and you’d think he’ll have to see another fifty balls at least if his side are gonna get something defensible here.

Meanwhile Excelsior, after a solid half-century partnership between Mitchell and Ingram, have suddenly imploded. From 69-1 they’ve now lost five wickets for three runs. Ingram’s dismissal sparked the collapse, caught deep midwicket off Hans, before Ingram followed him miscuing high into the on side off Kothari. The two ACC spinners have wrecked the Excelsior middle order in a trice here, Victor Lubbers, Niels Etman, and Joost Kroesen all go without scoring. Stan van Troost and Roel Verhagen now trying to arrest the collapse.

VRA still swinging away merrily at the Zomercomplex, and Tariq continues to profit. Eales the latest to hole out looking to put him over the rope. Shariz in with Smal now.

Bloemendaal in some bother now too. Babar did now long outlast Balducci, edging Gopinath high to slip next over, before Stoman nicked Lubbers through for a 19-ball 2. Now as I type Towl goes too, just looking to block Gopinath to cover but somehow gets under it and it loops up for a simple catch.

Kampong’s trouble continue as Vieler digs a yorker out but pops a low return chance back to Brand who clings on in his follow through. Jacod joins Edwards. Real pressure on the frontrunners now.

VCC also lost three inside the powerplay, Croes cutting Crowley to point. Klein in with de Lange now. Teun Leijer into the attack.

Rasool gone too at the Zomercomplex, LBW to Shahzad. Eales in with Smal now and VRA in a fair bit of bother. Just bowling all-rounders to come now.

Belated breakthrough at Donkerelaan too, where Lubbers has Luca Balducci caught at mid off, big leading edge trying to flick to leg held by Gopinath. Mridul in.

Sparta one down as well meanwhile, Ferguson bowled by Aaditt Jain. Latif joins Mudford, who has been remarkably circumspect thus far.

Kampong three down, and it’s van den Burg now edging Trappenburg to slip. He’d been looking entirely dominant until that point with six boundaries in his 23-ball 35. Vieler in with Edwards now.

Prince falls flaying a thick outside edge off Traiq out to deep cover, bringing Vikram Singh to the crease. He comes to face Tariq an over later and clearly has no patience for the barely-even-medium pace at all. Launches three of the first four balls for six dead straight over Tariq’s head, before trying to put the next away over midwicket, only to pick out Musa on the boundary. Tariq looks very pleased at the wicket. Smal in.

Excelsior recovering from an early blow too, Luuk Kroesen leaving an inswinger from Sayed and losing his off stump. Mitcell joined by Ingram, Reddy shares the new ball.

And Kampong lose their second too, Crudeli again full outside off, Alphonse gives chase and edges to second slip. Edwards in at four.

Brisk but brief return to Topklasse cricket for Michael Levitt, three boundaries early but now shovels Crowley to Overdijk at mid on and gone for 13. Cedric de Lange joins Gigani. And now a second, Gigani drives Leonard to cover point and VCC are two down. Croes at four.

Prince up the order again opening with Rasool, and they’re making good use of the short boundaries at the Zomercomplex. Prince takes Tariq for a straight one bouncer back over his head, then collects four more just turning one square off his hip. Rasool with two fours to his name already too, good start for the visitors.

Luca Balducci and Ali Babar opening for Bloemendaal, Reinder Lubbers takes the new ball, just one off the first. Malikzai from the other end.

Kampong elect to bat first in the Hoofdklasse qualifying semi, O’Dowd opening with Ratha Alphonse. Crudeli opens the bowling for Quick, and a huge wicket three balls in as Crudeli square O’Dowd up, feather of an outside edge through and O’Dowd’s walking! Van den Burg in at three and immediately counter-attacks, quick could then a nicely timed drive through the covers for four.

Salland win the toss and insert Bloemendaal.

Punjab win the toss and elect to bowl at the Zomercomplex.

Sparta win the toss and will bat first at Hazelaarweg

Does look like Voorburg have elected to prioritise the first team’s shot at defending the Topklasse title over their seconds’ de-facto relegation play-off against Dosti, with sometime second teamers Cedric de Lange, Alejo Nota and Nehaan Gigani all lining up for the ones today. Big surprise for HCC is that Daniel Doram has stayed on and is playing today. HCC win the toss and Voorburg to bat first.

Word from ‘t Loopveld, ACC win the toss and put Excelsior in to bat.