Topklasse Live | Round 18 | As it Happened

Wide and full outside off, Jain shapes to … sweep? paddle? … anyways off his leg and they run one. Jannet cuts the next late for one more. Next ball is pitched up again, Jain goes for glory, gets under it and it’s high out toward long on – but he hasn’t got enough of it! But it doesn’t matter! Long on is in off the rope and can only leap and palm it over his head, and the rope, for six! That’s the game! VOC win by 6 wickets!

Looks like Reddy has been entrusted with the final over. Jain to face.

Protracted delay preceds the 49th, not sure of the cause if there even was one. Sayed indeed to bowl his last. First ball Jain and Jannet almost managed to manufacture a run-out off a block into the covers, stop, go, no, Jain scrambles back. Just three singles off the rest of the over. Five left to get, or four for the tie. Sayed and Ahmad both bowled out now. Unsurprisingly, there are more discussions going on.

Wide outside off first up from Sayed for the 47th, but pulls the over back well. Just four singles off the rest of it. Still Ahmad at the other end. Forced through midwicket off the back foot by Jannet second ball and another three that shouldn’t have been there. Frustration in evidence now, a wide down leg, a brace of twos, VOC just eight runs away with two overs to go.

Jain and Jannet still running hand, another three in the 45th, which goes for eight all told. Still Sayed there, you’d think he’ll bowl out at that end. Ahmad to bowl his ninth from the other, still off the short run-up. Fiftieth over an interesting question if we get that far. Cut on the up through point for four by Jannet third ball. He goes to 75 with that shot, then gets off strike. Ahmad taking all the pace off now. Seven off it. 23 needed off the last four.

Raza back looking to contain, but ACC need wickets now. Five off the 43rd, but a risky push for three first ball of the 44th might have brought another run-out if the throw was as good as the one that saw Monty Singh given out earlier. It wasn’t though. Sixes from the last last six gets us to a tie. Surely not…?

Reddy returns and gives up just a single off his first over back, and ACC have managed to push the asking rate up over a run a ball for the first time with this little passage of play. 62 needed off the last ten. And Jain finds four of them first ball of the 41st as Reddy makes the mistake of going short and is pulled through midwicket. Doesn’t repeat the mistake, but goes too full last ball and Jannet drives him straight for four more. Arya back again at the other end, three singles and two false shots in his over, both bats go horizontal to fuller balls floated up, but both survive. Can’t say they’re not trying to keep things interesting.

If that is Ahmad he’s bowling off a substantially shortened run-up. Too far down leg third ball and Recordon glances fine for four, but two balls later edges through to the keeper to go for a 41-ball 18. Arnav Jain in and off the mark dabbing square for a single, which has been credited to Jannet for some reason. Tough job, scoring.

Comedy misfield at mid-off off what was barely more than a tap-back off Raza brings Recordon a welcome first boundary. ACC skipper looks deeply unimpressed. Arora continues, no wait that’s not Arora at all it’s just Arya. Not sure how that’s eluded the scorers. On reflection, it was probably Arya all along in fact. Jannet froces a back foot shot out to long on for a single an dhis fifty, then Recordon takes him for an earned four lofted through the vancant lefty’s long on. Sayed returns for a quick crack before drinks, presumably. Yep. Four off it and that’s drinks.

A couple more for Recordon as Raza spears one too far down leg and a feather edge runs fine, but he’s faced 19 deliveries for his 3* now. More spin now, Arora into the attack for the first time I can recall bowling what looks like mostly googlies. Almost has Jannet off a top edged sweep second ball, but it falls into space behind where a leg slip might have been.

With the uncontainable van der Meulen gone, the squeeze is very much on. Recordon’s managed just a single run off Raza so far, the latter bowling around the wicket and fullish, and a leg bye off Ahmed off what looked a pretty decent LBW shout. Jannet is looking more proactive though, a trio of twos in Ahmed’s next taking him to within one hit of a half-century.

Van der Meulen, unperturbed by his close shave, is still living dangerously as he passes fifty attempting to loft Ahmed toward vacant long off, doesn’t middle it and it skews away high as the man at mid-offish perhaps a straight extra cover, tracks back and shells the catch. His luck can’t last though. In Ahmed’s next over a languid straight drive brings him four more – but the next ball jags in and takes his off stump as he plays around it. A fine fifty no doubt, but made in a style that suggests an unwarranted confidence in the batting to come. Recordon joins Jannet, who’s on a rather more circumspect 36* off 72. Raza on from the other end now.

Then sensation, and perhaps the turning point! Van der Meulen skies Saxena to long off, the catch is taken, the batter hangs his head, the fielders celebrate . . . and the umpire signals six! There must, one supposes, have been contact with the boundary. General disbelief, but Van der Meulen lives to fight another day.

Van der Meulen, who clearly doesn’t want this to be a cliff-hanger, lofts Reddy over long on for another six, and it takes a while to recover it from the undergrowth. The umpires, in fact, go for another ball, while a party of elderly spectators continues the search. Saxena on from the Pavilion End, his flatter trajectory at least preventing Van der Meulen from going aerial. Another double change, with medium-pacer Arslan Ahmed into the attack. Janett, without every looking comfortable, has gone to 25*, with Van der Meulen on 32*, and gradually VOC are getting the upper hand.

Van der Meulen drives Reddy through extra for four to get off the mark, but VOC have a lot of work to do. Van der Meulen goes after Arya as well, smacking him over extra for another boundary. The next one goes a good bit further, all the way, in fact. And with VOC back in front on DLS, they take a drink.

Singh lofts Arya over extra cover for four, VOC staying just ahead for the DLS part score, FWIW. And that is a MASSIVE moment: Janett’s straight drive beats Arya, they come back for a second and the direct hit from long off Reddy sees Singh just short of his ground! He doesn’t look convinced, but the umpire is, and that’s what counts. Van der Meulen in to join Janett, and ACC must feel they’re a couple of wickets away from next year’s Topklasse!

Fed up with being tied down, Singh smacks Sayed back over his head for six. Two balls later he survives a very big shout for leg-before. Then Janett relieves the tension as well, picking up an Iftikhari delivery and despatching it over midwicket for another six. 39 off the powerplay, and Devanshu Arya into the attack. He’s immediately on the spot, giving the ball plenty of air, and there’s a double change, with Joe Reddy from the Railway End. Tidy first over from him as well.

Sayed’s giving Janett a really hard time, his third over a very hostile maiden. Singh cuts at Iftikhari, and from the reaction I’d say he was dropped at point. Big moment if true. Later in the over, he drives much more fluently to the point boundary. Then it’s Iftikhari’s turn to torment Janett, who now has 8* from 35 deliveries.

A steady start by Janett and Singh, but Sayed and Iftikhar are bowling better lines, and definitiely better lengths, than the VOC seamers were able to do, and there have been no boundary opportunities as yet.

Hey-up, it appears that VOC start with 5 penalty runs, although I must say I didn’t see any signal during the ACC innings. I’d guess it may have arisen from the collision between Sayed and Aaaditt Jain, although I’m not 100% sure. Anyway, after conceding a wide Iftikhari has bowled De Kok, and ACC are on their way! Monty Singh joins Janett for what will surely be a crucial partnership.

They’re back on, Izhaan Sayed starting from the Pavilion End to Scott Jaanett, who’s partnered by De Kok. Nippy first over, one definitely surprising Janett a little. Iftikhari Ahmad from the Railway End.

A string of singles keeps the board moving, until Saxena’s run out going for a bye to the keeper off the penultimate delivery. two off the last, another overthrow, and ACC will be pretty happy with that total.

A moment of drama as Sayed collides with Aaditt, but both players seem fine. The bowler especially so, as he rattles Raza’s stumps with his next. Iftikhari Ahmad jojns Sayed, and they pick up ones and twos until Sayed holes out to Van der Meulen at cow off Harhangi. Abishek Saxena the new man.

VOC are up again now, given new heart by those two wickets despite the 200 coming up. Raza and Sayed are dealing in singles rather than boundaries. Until Sayed pulls Van der Meulen hard through midwicket for four. Harhangi back, and YOU CAN’T BOWL SHORT ON THIS PITCH!!! Four overs left, and 226 was the highest total by a side batting first here during the Topklasse competition . . .

ACC need not to throw this away: Jami goes after Arnav, and holes out to Van der Meulen at long on. Izhaan Sayed in now, with two new batters at the crease.

A push to midwicket brings up Van der Merwe’s half-century, a really fine one. An interesting little duel between Van der Meulen and Jami as the latter tries to up the tempo, but crucially, it’s Van der Merwe who gets under a drive and is caught at extra by Arnav Jain for 59. Anis Raza in to join Jami, who’s on 33*.

A half-chance off Schoonheim as Jami mistimes a drive, but mid-off just can’t get to it. Van der Meulen on for De kok at the Pavilion End, then Harhangi back from the other. Jami skies him to deep mid-on, three men converge, but no-one can hold onto it. Van der Merwe is starting to change the gears as well, driving over mid-off’s head to the boundary. As we go into the last ten he’s on 49*, with Jami on 31*.

De Kok comes on himself, Van der Merwe easing his first ball through the covers for four. Two balls later he cracks him square for four more. Schoonheim switches to the Railway End, Van der Merwe pulling a full toss over midwicket for another boundary. These two have put on 53 now, and although De Kok’s showing plenty of fight, his side are in desperate need of a wicket. Or three.

Arnav Jain switches to the Railway End, and he does restrict Van der Merwe to a couple off his first delivery. But ACC have a great platform here, and VOC need wickets. Still, more fine containing bowling from Arnav, including a great save to his right when Van der Merwe drives. They take another drink.

Van der Meulen’s another who suffers when he drops short, Van der Merwe onto it and pulling hard behind square for four. But he does it again, with the same result. Tennis-ball bounce is just an invitation to smack it. Aaditt’s more on the spot, although when he overpitches slightly Van der Merwe drives him back sweetly, just on the on side, for three. And then he does the same to Van der Meulen – shot of the day so far, that! Another off the last ball of the over isn’t quite as well timed, but it gets the same result. Van der Merwe looking ominous here.

Schoonheim is skilfully deploying his slower ball, but an on-pace delivery is despatched by Arora over mid-on for four. Jason van der Meulen on from the Railway End, with Aaditt back from the other. And finally Arora, on 60, falls to his scoop, finding Pieter Recordon at deep square leg. Ben van der Merwe joins Jami.

Arora squeezes Upadhyaya through point to reach fifty, his first of the season in fact. Not a bad time to produce it! Then he has a bit of luck, as he miscues Schoonheim into the covers and it falls safely. Jami, quite tall, looks more stylish, but Upadhyaya has him playing and missing outside off as he makes to cut. 100 up after 24, 22 of them in wides.

Schoonheim, assisted by Mr Drinks, gets the breakthrough: Belavadi goes for a cross-batted switch, top-edges it over his head, and Singh drops back to take the catch. Santhosh Jami in to join Arora, now on 48*.

This is not a pitch to drop short on, and Aaditt and Harhangi have been punished when they have. After that Janett over, De Kok turns to the experience of Jelte Schoonheim, but still the runs come, helped by more wides. Ramdas Upadhaya from the Railway End, but Arora greets him with another scoop for four. He’s on 47* now, with wides on 19. And they take a drink.

A meaty, full-blooded pull by Arora off Harhangi goes all the way; VOC’s young seamers haven’t been consistent enough this morning. Arnav finishes a fine initial spell with one for 9 from seven overs, as Scott Janett comes into the attack. Another overthrow, under no pressure this time, and then an Arora pull which might, from the reactions, have been caught goes for another four. Then Janett sprays one down the legside which goes for five wides. 15 off the over, and VOC need to get a grip here.

Roman Harhangi replaces Aaditt from the Railway End. A couple of wides in his first, and Belavadi quickly off the mark with a leg-side tickle for a single. Arora continues with his top-hand-heavy scoops to leg. But they’re effective, and he’s gone to 24*,

Arora swings Arnav away square for a single, but then he gets the breakthrough: Arslan, who’s never looked really comfortable, prods forward, and Tim de Kok dives low to his right at slip to take the catch. Suraj Belavadi in at three.

Two more maidens, and VOC seem firmly back in control for now. A single, tucked by Arora just in front of square of Aaditt, breaks the sequence, and a rather wild throw at the stumps makes it a double. Then he steers him down through the gully, rather perilously, and they get a couple more. Arslan takes one painfully on the glove to finish the over.

Maiden from Arnav to Arslan, then a much better-directed over from Aaditt produces another. An edge by Arslan off Arnav eludes slip and they get a couple, and a much more confident stroke through point yields two more. But that initial flurry has been brought under control by the Jains.

First boundary, as Arora turns a lifting delivery from Aaditt rather awkwardly to fine leg, then scoops him uppishly through midwicket for another. And he cracks him beautifully through point for a third – the first really convincing stroke as Aaditt struggles with line and length.

Akash Arora and Arslan Ahmed open for ACC, Arnav Jain starting from the Pavilion End to the former. Arora plays and misses at the first, Monty Singh, back behind the stumps for VOC, whips the bails off and rather optimistically appeals. The last is tucked out to square leg for a single to get the board moving. Aaditt Jain from the Railway End.

We learn that VOC have won the toss and elected to bowl. The umpires are on their way out to the middle.