Topklasse Live | Round 17 | As it Happened

Two runs off the last as Hermes limp to a 170 total, but given the day’s events that’ll be enough to secure them safety. The two points are enough for Voorburg too of course. Relief all round then, earned or unearned, as VCC win by 65 runs.

Woermeijerclean bowled on the sweep by Nashier, who becomes the third bowler to pick up a six-fer today. Jabakhail last man. Levitt to bowl the final over.

Two in two for Nashier now, Kothari held at long on and then Ralph Elenbaas deep midwicket first ball. So five wickets for Nashier and Hermes best hope is to bat three more overs to limit the net run rate damage. Woermeijer at ten.

A third for Nashier as Braat picks out deep midwicket, Jamil joins Kothari but the game’s long gone now. 80 needed off the last four if anyone’s still counting.

And all over now at Hazelaarweg too, Rossouw gets Schoonheim to finish with 6-31, Oberholzer unbeaten on 86* as HBS win by 51 runs.

Last wicket stand still going at the Zomercomplex too, Baker has his fifty, four sixes to his name now, they don’t quite make the 150-mark though. An unbroken 61 run stand for the 10th gets them to 149-9 from their 40 as Punjab win by 200 runs.
Edit: for posterity’s sake a belated update on the actual DLS target and thus margin of victory: turns out that contrary to the official live scorecard at the time, the target was in fact 369, whcih makes a bit more sense really. Not clear if anyone at the ground was aware, but either way in fact Punjab won by 219 runs.

150 up for VOC, Oberholzer and Schoonheim not rolling over at Hazelaarweg.

Scoreboard pressure finally tells at the Loopuyt now, DDC across his stumps looking to help Nashier through fine leg, feather edge and an insistent appeal. Really didn’t look like the umpire was going to give it but Doyle-Calle walks. And the breakthrough could prove pivotal as Statham is caught long off off Levitt next over, then Elenebaas long on off Nashier. Kothari and Braat in but a tough ask has become a lot tougher.

And all over. A second for Gorlee as last man Edward slaps one high but not far into the leg side, where Leijer takes the catch. Excelsior’s already long odds of survival lengthen still further as HCC win by 75 runs.

Everybody gets a bowl day in full effect at Thurlede, Gorlee’s brought himself on now and rewards his faith in himself with the wicket of Kroesen, who holes out to long on for 59. Ralston the next to fall pinned LBW by White in the next over, who then has Rens van Troost caught long off off a big leagding edge.

Sparta need even more than that of course, but Baker seems unperturbed. He’s put on 44 the last wicket with Snoep and all but 4 of them have come from his bat.

Oberholzer still defies HBS at Hazelaarweg meanwhile, he’s on 78* off 82 now, Schoonheim still with him on 2* off 11. Partnership is worth 31 now, but they need a century stand for the last wicket to win it.

Levitt replaces de Lange looking to stall the building momentum, but a rank full toss fourth ball lets DDC hooks around the corner for four. They’ll need two boundaries an over from here though you’d think. 101 needed off the last ten.

Baker having a hit-out meanwhile, run-a-ball 33 for him with three sixes and a four makes him Sparta’s top scorer for the day.

Banerjee breaks the stand at Thurlede as Etman sweeps hard but uppishly square and into the hands of Brown. He goes for 23, Kroesen still there one short of a half century. Rens van Troost at seven.

Floris de Lange into the attack, line’s a bit off and twice cut for a couple through point by Doyle-Calle, then two balls later the Spain skipper uses his feet, down the track and takes him over midwicket for a much-needed six. Next ball is cut behind point for four to bring up his fifty, and finally some acceleration from the hosts.

Fighting fifty for Oberholzer, but he’s lost another partner as van Wingerden is caught off Rossouw for 3. Harhangi in, who lasts five balls before being bowled. Five-fer for Rossouw. Schoonheim last man.

Joost Kroesen’s mustered some middle-order resistance with Etman, they’e put on 42 for the 6th wicket now – dragging Excelsior past the half-way point. Yash Patel having a bowl now, which is at least not entirely unprecedented.

Sparta have avoided an unwanted record, but it’s likely only the rain that’s saved them there. Hoornweg is run out by Musa Ahmad, who follows it up by having Scheepers caught for 25 next over. Quite a day he’s having. Snoep and Baker last pair.

Batting’s not much easier at the Loopuyt, but DDC and Stathan are hanging in there. They’re not even close to the asking rate though, which is up over nines now.

Sparta continue to crumble, Manminder Singh run out, Ahsan Malik caught off Tariq. As m’Colleague observes, they still need ten runs to avoid the heaviest defeat by runs in the limited overs era. Hoornweg and Scheepers in now.

Arnav Jain caught behind off Rossouw, Aaditt Jain in. Batting has become tough everywhere after the rain it seems. And there goes Aaditt, lasts two balls before being bowled. Van Wingerden in.

Down goes another at Thurlede, Verhagen out LBW to Tonny Staal now of all people. Bowling offspin round the wicket for the curious. Niels Etman in, and it really is give everyone a bowl day today – Banerjee from the other end.

Sparta in a state too, five down now and not even at 10% of the target.

Wickets tumbling everywhere after the rain it seems. VOC lose three in succession as Jannet is caught off Botha, and Monty Singh pinned Klein in the next – before van der Meulen is cleaned up by Botha. Koistra in, and Koistra out! Rossouw strikes in his first, VOC in shambles again.

Excelsior in freefall now as van Tonder edges Leijer to Kloppenberg at slip. Joost Kroesen in.

Hermes lose one right after the rain too, Ostling miscuing a sweep and caught square leg off Klein. Make that two, as Mumba nicks off Zulfiqar now. Statham at four.

Back on at the Zomercomplex too, where Boorer and Klesse resume the chase, now needing mere 350 in 40 overs. And as I type Klesse is caught off Tariq. Scheepers at five.

And back at Thurlede too, where White strikes soon after the resumption to remove Etman caught and bowled. Stan van Troost joins van Tonder, but not for long. he edges White to first slip first ball of the 12th, Verhagen in at four with his side in serious trouble.

They’re back on at Hazelaarweg, Oberholzer in at three and takes two boundaries off Botha punching through point. Not sure quite what the rain break has done in terms of target and overs, but VOC likely in a good position at the minute.

Five dots to start including an inside edge across the stumps, Edwards’ career bowing figures keep getting better. And should have had a wicket too as a tough chance is put down at backward point, instead the run two and that will be that. VRA win by four wickets.

Smal takes a knee to Ingram and slog sweeps for six over midwicket, faint glimmer of hope for the hosts snuffed out again. Just two to get. Scott Edwards into the attack now. Well why not?

Word is it’s clearing up at the Loopuyt Oval, talk of a 5pm resumption..

Smal survives an outside edge off Ingram as a tough low chance goes down at slip, next ball Cassidy loses his off stump. VRA stumbling now, six down and just bowlers to come. Thakur in with Smal. Berry to continue.

Farcical scenes now. Lane Berry into the attack for the first time in his Topklasse career. He serves Singh up a rank, looping full toss, which Singh can only shovel up into the hands of deep midwicket. Cassidy at seven, Ingram back from the other end to hopefully restore a modicum of seriousness to proceedings.

VRA just stuttering a bit now, Shariz picks out square leg on the sweep off Gopinath, and now Zaidi runs himself out going for a lunatic single to mid off and quite rightly sent back by Singh. Smal in at six.

This pair have looked fairly content to milk the spinners since the wicket of Gouge, but when Singh sees one he likes tossed up outside off from Jacod he gets his hands quickly through the shot to lift it staight for six. Seems to shake Jacod somewhat, produces a looping moonball over Singh’s head a couple of balls later, then spears on down leg defending the free hit, Singh gives chase and picks up four through fine leg.

Well we’re guaranteed one result today at least, and it’s looking overwhelmingly likely to be a VRA victory over the new champions. 20 overs gone at Maarschalkerweerd, VRA need 64 runs with 8 wickets in hand – including those of their leading scorers for the season, Smal and Cassidy.

Seems a wickets are falling along with the rain at Hazelaarweg. They’ve not resumed play but it somehow Tim de Kok has managed to get out nonetheless, bowled Botha apparently. A scoring oversight as they came off, now corrected, one suspects.

Gouge has been targetting the leg side boundary off the spinnes, taking six off Jacod to open the sixteenth, then finding the rope again in each of the next two overs. Comes a cropper just trying to retain strike on the last ball of the 18th though, down the track looking to work Jacod to leg but ends up popping a simple catch to Ingram at midwicket. He goes for 42, looks like Shariz at four.

The rain’s not made it as far as Utrecht yet, but Nidamanuru’s entertaining knock has come to and end. Leading edge off Gopinath and caught for 61 off 30 – the best knock of a bad season for the VRA skipper, but one that bodes well for the Topklasse T20 comp later in the summer. Vikram Singh at number three now offered a chance to play his way into some form too.

And they’re off for rain at the Zomercomplex now too.

They’re off at Hazelaarweg though, and likely to be a long wait too judging by the radar. The hosts will be desperate to get back out for another 17 overs at least though, DLS will likely be kind to them if they do.

Raining at the Zomercomplex too, but the umpires keep them on long enough for Shahzad to claim a couple of wickets – Steenbergen down the track and swishing at air, then Khalid Ahmadi sending up a skier on the slog which Sikander Zulfiqar gathers. Klesse in with Boorer now, not sure why they’re still out there though, raining pretty hard.

Early wicket at Thurlede, Rahaley miscuing White on the drive and caught long offish. Van Tonder at three and he’s gotten off to a brisk start, on to 17* at about a run a ball, but as you may have guess the weather has arrived on the other side of Prinses Beatrix park too.

The rain has arrived at Schiedam.

Nidamanuru takes four fours off four balls again, Nana struggling as the VRA skipper races to a half century inside of 20 deliveries. 75 off the powerplay. Could be over quick, this. Left arm spin at both ends now – Ingram and Gopinath for the hosts.

Back on at the ‘plex too, still summery enough for now. Boorer and Steenbergen at the base of the mountain, Shahzad and Tariq share the new ball.

And Hermes have started their chase too, Ostling back up the order to open with Doyle-Calle. Ryan Klein opens the bowling, just a single off the first. Mumba from the other end.

VOC have started their chase, with half an eye on the DLS par at 20 and and half an eye on the radar, one imagines. Jannet and de Kok opening, Botha and Klein with the new ball, the latter bowling off a full run-up again.

Back on at Thurlede too, Rahaley and Etman openingfor the hosts, Damien Crowley and Ollie White share the new ball. Tidy from the former, just a single off the first, but Rahaley takes two boundaries off White’s first deliveries, through point and then over midwicket.

There already underway at Maarschalkerweerd, Nidamanuru having promoted himself to open along with Patrick Gouge. And the VRA skipper justifies his decision emphatically in the third over, four consecutive boundaries off Nana and 21 off it. Kumar shares the new ball.

Hoornweg goes for plenty, but he has the compensation of another wicket, Tariq caught by Steenbergen for 15. Fawad Shinwari joins Sikander. Still the flow of sixes remains unstemmed, and there’s time for Sikander to reach a 26-ball half-century as Punjab become just the second team to post 400 this century, and only the third since the introduction of limited-overs cricket.

Del Bianco does get his side past 200, and remains not out on 60 and Harhangi returns to get Boddendijk caught by Oberholzer for 15. 25 the last pair added, very useful runs indeed.

Two for Braat in three deliveries, Klein caught by Ralph Elenbaas at long on, then Croes goes the same way for 63. Carl Mumba belts three sixes before he’s caught by Kothari at fine leg, despite almost being tackled by keeper Zulfiqar (the fielder, not the batter). He made 22 from 10. Three for 40 for Braat.

Gorlee’s battle with the turf continues, as he skies Gijs Kroesen high towards Verhagen at mid-on and starts walking before the ball reaches its zenith. Into the final over, there’s aother for Kroesen, Leijer lofting him to brother Joost at long off, then a sixth as Josh Brown finds Rahaley at deep mid-on. Six for 63 is Gijs Kroesen’s first Topklasse Michelle, and Brown’s wicket is his 100th in the top flight.

Wickets at the Zomercomplex as Punjab look to cash in on their remarkable platform. Scheepers gets Niaz caught and bowled, and then Baker catches Musa off Max Hoornweg for 123 as, having just hit him for four and six, he’s too close to a cut and can’t get on top of it. Young Affaan Tariq joins Sikander Zulfiqar in the middle.

A double blow by Nidamanuru, who has Kumar caught by Singh for 2 and then runs Nana out with a direct hit. He finishes with three for 12, Ruffell claiming three fir 36. And Kampong will have the unaccustomed task of defending a modest total.

A direct hit by Chris Oberholzer accounts for Rossouw, but Del Bianco now has 58*, and as long as he’s there, with support from Benno Boddendijk, HBS can still hope to get past 200.

Mussayab Jamil removes Melville for 36, bowling him as he tries an over-ambitious reverse shot and misses. Ryan Klein in to join Croes, who’s gone on to 50*.

Rahaley, in his final over, has Crowley caught by Raynard van Tonder for 15, and then Patel is caught behind by Stan van Troost off Gijs Kroesen for 24. Gorlee is at the crease at last, joined now by Teun Leijer.

Saqib goes past 150 with his tenth six, but then he falls to a Manminder Singh full toss, pulled to Max Hoornweg at deep square. His 151 came from 96 deliveries, with eight fours and ten sixes, and the stand was worth 232. Burhan Niaz in to join Musa, who immediately reaches his own century, and with 11 overs to go Punjab have 300.

Kampong going nowhere fast, the latest victim Roy, bowled by Turmaine for 24. Shashank Kumar in to join Nana.

Del Bianco’s still there, on 45* now, but he’s lost De Mey, also bowled by Arnav Jain for 2. Jayden Rossouw the new man, but the Crows really need their tail to wag again.

Into the last ten at the Loopuyt Oval as well, with Croes on 35* and Melville 31*. We know that this is not a high-scoring round, but Voorburg will likely need a couple of gear changes if they’re to feel at all comfortable at the break.

And as I post that Banerjee, on 72 and having just hit Kroesen for another boundary, flicks him off his pads and is caught by Rens van Troost behind square. Yaash Patel in at seven.

Banerjee on 67*, as Gijs Kroesen returns. HCC still have plenty of batting to come (not least Boris Gorlee), and it looks as if Excelsior will be chasing plenty.

The punishment continues, Saqib now with his best Topklasse score and the partnership past 200. Manminder Singh into the attack, but Saqib and Musa, now on 128* and 92*, march on.

Ruffell returns to get Jacod caught behind by Cassidy for 41, Kertan Nana in to join Roy. VRA have plenty of bowling left, and are well on top here.

Arnav Jain’s bowled Scholte, bringing Julien de Mey in to join Del Bianco, who is on 39* now and really the last HBS hope of setting VOC a challenging target.

Braat’s back from the Pavilion End, but by the second drinks break at the Loopuyt Oval Croes and Melville have added 55 for the fourth wicket, and Hermes may be facing a pretty substantial chase.

Kloppenburg hits Kroesen for a towering six over long on, then sweeps him square for four, but then he gets the toe of the bat as he goes for another big blow and is caught by Ralston at long off for 37. Daniel Crowley in to join Banerjee.

Any bother at the Zomercomplex is the perquisite of Sparta, Saqib having reached a 70-ball century, his second for Punjab and his third in the Topklasse. Musa’s on 83*, and the stand is already worth 162. This is merciless batting.

Kampong are also in a spot of bother, Vieler having fallen to Turnmaine, caught by Shariz Ahmad, for 11. Alex Roy in to join Jacod.

Things are starting to look a trifle bleak for HBS, as Klein falls to a return catch by Van der Meulen and then Tobias Visée, batting in the unfamiliar No. 7 spot, is run out by the combination of Arnav Jain and Siebe van Wingerden for 2. Del Bianco’s still there though, batting with Martijn Scholte and now on 29*.

Steady progress for Croes and Melville, both on 15*, but jabarkhail and Kothari are, as so often, giving very little away.

Joost Kroesen returns, and a couple of singles take Banerjee to a maiden Topklasse fifty. Kloppenburg’s on 15* at the other end, and this is proving a very useful stand for HCC.

Umar Baker on for Sparta, and Saqib promptly slog-sweeps him over square leg for six. Next over Snoep gets the same treatment, and at the halfway point Punjab are well set for a massive total, Saqib on 82* and Musa on 59*.

Ditto Kampong, for whom Vieler and Jacod are setting about providing exactly that. Long way to go, though, as Leon Turmaine comes into the attack.

A big, big wicket for VOC, Van der Meulen trapping Walbrugh in front for 38. Kyle Klein the new man, with HBS needing a partnership.

Wickets for Jabarkhail now though, De Lange and Kaplan both gone for 44. First De Lange tries to hoist him over mid-on and is caught by Woermeijer, then, in his next over Kaplan hoiles out to Daniel Doyle-Calle at long on. Noah Croes is joined by Henry Melville.

Nelson and Gijs Kroesen, who’s replaced his big brother from the Chalet End, combine to remove White. Having reached 59, he comes down the pitch driving, misses, and is bowled. Enter Teun Kloppenburg, joining Banerjee on 29*.

Saqib races past fifty, made from 39 deliveries with two fours and three sixes, and is soon joined by Musa, who needs 57. Ahsan Malik has returned to the attack, but the runs keep coming as Punjab are again on track for a big total.

Another one down at Maarschalkerweerd: Edwards slices Nidamanuru to Abid at mid-on and departs for 12. Make that another two, as the VRA captain slides one through Ingram’s defence and bowls him for 15. Pierre Jacod joins Karel Vieler, with Kampong perhaps suffering from Already-champions Syndrome.

Hundred up too at the Hazelaarweg, with Walbrugh and Del Bianco ticking off the runs against Schoonheim and Harhangi.

Braat turns to spin as well, but Hikmatulla Jabarkhail and Sahil Kothari haven’t yet been able to find a breakthrough, Voorburg going past the hundred with De Lange and Kaplan looking comfortable.

Kroesen’s bowling a mostly tidy spell, and when he overpitches Banerjee can only sweep him for a single. Verhagen brings himself on from the City End, but White’s playing another composed innings, on 45* now and happy to take ones and twos .

Drinks at the Zomercomplex as well, with Musa and Saqib looking comfortable on 42* and 33* respectively. Snoep has tried five bowlers so far, but only has Ahmadi’s dismissal of Minhas to show for it. He will continue himself after the break,

They take a drink at Maarschalkerweerd, with Edwards and Ingram building a useful stand, Singh and Nidamanuru into the attack for VRA now.

The ever-reliable Jelte Schoonheim removes Barresi, who having hit him for six swings across the line two balls later and is caught by Jason van der Meulen at mid-on for 39 (from 29 deliveries). Lucas del Bianco joins Walbrugh, batting as if the weight of his team’s survival is on his shoulders, which to a degree it is.

Elsewhere in Schiedam De Lange and Kaplan are stitching together another very useful partnership, proceeding steadily against Ralph Elenbaas and Niels Woermeijer. De Lange on 35* now, Kaplan on 21`*, the former limbering up for the U19 World Cup qualifier.

Joost Kroesen into the attack from the Chalet End, and almost immediately he traps Staal, going back as he tries to turn him to leg and caught pretty plumb. That brings Shirsak Banerjee in to join White, since when the New Zealander has progressed to 41*.

Khalid Ahmadi on from the Equestrian Centre End, and he tempts Minhas into an uncontrolled lofted shot which is taken by Juandre Scheepers at square leg. He goes for 22, and Saqib Zulfiqar joins Musa, who’s on 33*

Some relief for Abid, as O’Dowd tries to hit him over the cover boundary and instead finds Teja Nidamanuru. He goes for 15, and five balls later Berry departs as well, skying Ruffell as he attempts another mighty blow and seeing the bowler take the catch. His 45 came from 18 deliveries, with seven fours and two sixes (= 40). Lorenzo Ingram in to join Scott Edwards.

Rebuilding at the Hazelaarweg as well, Barresi going after the Jains and racing to 29* from 21 deliveries. Walbrugh more watchful at the other end, but this is a vital partnership for HBS.

It was too good to last, I suppose: having reached 24 with back-to-back fours, Levitt tries to put Elenbaas away again, is struck on the pad, and up goes the umpire’s finger. Gavin Kaplan joins Cedric de Lange, and they have set about stabilising the innings. Ralph Elenbaas replaces his brother from the Railway End.

Fine opening spell from Ralston, just 7 coming from five overs, but Staal and White are digging in after the loss of that early wicket. Karson Edward replaces Ralston from the City End

Lane Berry’s another to get off to a rapid start, smacking 28 off the first dozen balls he receives, 26 of them in boundaries. Ashir Abid takes most of the punishment, conceding 36 from three overs.

They’re under way at the Zomercomplex, and Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas hit the ground running, both despatching Ahsan Malik for six inside the first five overs.

HBS in early trouble: Reece Mason, after hitting Aaditt Jain for four, is bowled by the next delivery, and in the next over Arnav Jain does something very similar, conceding a boundary to Lehan Botha and then immediately getting his revenge with a return catch. Tayo Walbrugh and Wesley Barresi at the crease..

Flying start for Voorburg, put in by Sebastiaan Braat: Olivier Elenbaas, bowling from the Railway End, oversteps, Michael Levitt driving him wide of mid-on, before thumping the free hit delivery wide of long for six. Quieter from Braat’s end, but Levitt looks as if he means business.

Wicket in the first over at Thurlede as well: after Tonny Staal gets off the mark, Victor Wiesmeier tries to hit a lifting delivery from Jason Ralston over third man and holes out to Gijs Kroesen. Oliver White in, and he turns Sam Rahaley to the fine leg boundary.

Alex Roy makes the same decision, electing to bat at Maarschalkerweerd. Damien van den Berg opens with Max O’Dowd, taking a boundary off Peter Ruffell’s first over. But then he hits a return catch, gratefully accepted by the bowler.

Sikander Zulfiqar, by contrast, has elected to have a bat, but there’s a delay of some kind before things get under way.

Same story at Thurlede: Roel Verhagen has won the toss and given HCC first use of the pitch.

At the Hazelaarweg Tayo Walbrugh has called incorrectly, and Tim de Kok has asked HBS to have a bat.

Not sure who won the toss, but by the look of the scoreboard Voorburg will be batting at the Loopuyt Oval.