Topklasse Live | Round 2 | As it Happened

And that’s a wrap. Smal carves Trijzelaar away through cover to the rope. An unbeaten 77 for hims as VRA win by 6 wickets. That was not close either.

All done at Westvliet too, Swaroop on to bowl for the first time, two dots and a maiden wicket as van Oosterom misses an ungainly mow and is bowled. Swaroop really hasn’t put a foot wrong since his debut last week, an infinite batting average and a now a bowling average of nil to go with it. A comprehensive victory for the hosts as Voorburg win by 131 runs. That was not close.

Smal slashes Justin Trijzelaar away in front of point to the rope as VRA enter the final straight, but loses his partner next over as Zaidi pulls Crowley straight to midwicket. Shariz Ahmad in at six.

Another consolation wicket for VOC as Hoseinbaks cleans up Bangs, Sharma joins Jacod in the middle before the latter puts the game to bed next over with back to back fours through the leg side off Schoonheim. Jacod finishes unbeaten on 75 as Kampong win by 5 wickets. That was not close.

And a maiden five-fer for Jaynul Islam as Scholte is bowled. Kamran last man.

Smal goes to fifty punching Floyd back straight off the back foot. Zaidi still with him and they get after Worden in the next, buffet bowling really as Smal puts a rank full toss away for six, 20 off the over. VRA racing home here.

The Bloodhounds have a belated breakthrough as Edwards aims to take Schoonheim over the on side and the leading edge comes down for Price coming in from the deep. He goes for 88, Bangs in, Jacod still there on 67*, just 11 to get.

HBS eight-down now as Mason miscues a slog off Hatzoglou and is caught in the covers for 15. Van Oosterom in. Won’t be long now you’d think.

All over at Harga. Herrington goes sweeping over one from Saqib Zulfiqar and bowled, Mumba wraps it up uprooting Jabarkhail’s middle stump to finish with figures of 6-47 as Rotterdam win by 213 runs. That was not close.

Van Vliet removes Singh for 41, across the line and sends up a skyer, Croes jogs around to collect. Five catches for him now to go with his ton. Scholte in with Mason now.

Jacod brings up his half-century dabbing Hingorani square off the shins for one. Edwards still there on 80* and this pair look set to see VOC home. Schoonhiem into the attack.

Floyd breaks the stand, Cassidy caught behind for five. Zaidi in to join Smal, Worden into the attack from the other end.

And that’s five for Mumba as Jamil slaps one to backward square, Herrington in, just a matter of time now.

Two more for Mumba as he gets Braat LBW for 18 and then Statham for 25 caught off a leading edge. Jamil and Kothari in and Hemes are still an impossible 227 runs behind.

SIngh and Mason holding things up at Westvlietm havuing added 25 for the 7th wicket. Van Vliet back into the attack.

Still no sign of a breakthrough for VOC though, Price into the attack now as Edwards and Jacod take the hosts past 150.

And that’s the wicket they wanted, Brown breaks the stand as Singh departs for 57. Sam Cassidy at four.

VRA still cruising meanwhile, Smal on 23*, Singh on 57*. Floyd and Brown have slowed the rate of scoring, but the hosts need wickets in a hurry.

Statham and Braat have arrested the cascade of wickets at Harga, but the target’s only getting further out of reach. Mumba back.

Jaynul back and breaks the satnd, Goedeke bottom edging a pull into his stumps to fall for 48. Kyle Klein in, and Kyle Klein out, nicks behind last ball of the 25th. Mason to the middle.

Edwards brings up the hundred and his own half-century pulling van der Meulen savagely to the rope through square. Hoseinbaks on at the other end, is reverse swept for four by Jacod first ball of the 22nd. Kampong cruising.

Rippon back on at Westvliet after drinks, but Goedeke and Singh look fairly comfortable facing him. Goedeke brings up the half-century stand pushing him out to long on for one. Asking rate still ticking up though.

Floyd into the attack, and Singh brings up his fifty off 48 balls guiding him through point for a single. HCC in dire need of a second wicket.

Slide continues at Harga as Elenbaas edges behinf off Tariq on the cut after drinks. Braat in.

Edwards looks in a hurry now, takes 15 off van der Meulen’s first over including a pair of handsome back foot drives for four. No ball in there too, which the scorers appear to have missed.

Scoreboard pressure telling at Harga as Ostling pulls Tariq into the hands of deep midwicket. Statham in.

HBS lose their fourth as van Vliet takes del Bianco’s edge, another catch for Croes, who’s also having a great day out. Navjit Singh in. Michael Rippon on at the other end now, and is swept for four by Goedeke, who follows it up with a slog-swept six over square.

Nidamanuru looking to kickon, takes Overdijk for back to back boundaries but then gets too far under one and spoons up a catch to deep midwicket. Smal at three.

Ostling and Elenbaas consolidating, but any hope of chasing down this total is slipping fast. Sulaiman Tariq on to turn the screw.

Singh’s day is only getting better at de Diepput meanwhile, he’s moved on to 25* at better than a run a ball. Nidamanuru still with him and VRA looking well in control of the chase.

Meanwhile at Maarschalkerweerd Edwards has been driving the scoring, ticking along to 27* off 29 balls even as Ingram has struggled to get the ball away at the other end. Harhangi brings an end to a rather tortured innnings with a fuller ball that swings away late to take the edge, and Ingram departs for a 24-ball 4. Jacod joins Edwards.

Doyle Calle’s luck runs out as a leading edge off Mumba is held at point, then Mumba follows it up next ball swinging one right through the gate into leg stump and David Rushmere, after his record-breaking debut last week, is back in the shed for a golden duck. Hermes slip still further next over as Dutt is cleaned up by Shafiq. Three down and still an order of magnitude behind, this game is basically done already.

Another down at Westvliet as Islam nicks off de Mey, regulation fro Croes behind the stumps. Del Bianco in.

And down at de Diepput Singh kicks off the VRA chase with a lovely pick-up shot for six over the leg side. Slot from Overdijk really, a gift for Singh – who seems to be enjoying himself thoroughly today. Nidamanuru out there with him opening again, Crowley shares the new ball.

Chase underway at Harga too, Ostling and Doyle-Calle set off in pursuit of the monster total. And DDC has some early luck as he sends up a huge top edge off Mumba, with deep third somehow overruning it completely as it spins away for four. Classy cover drive nextball brings four more. Hermes will need both luck and skill if they’re to get near this total.

Back on at Westvliet too, and two early wickets there as well. Mees van Vliet, having been flicked for four through midwicket and then driven handsomely through cover off the back foot by Walbrugh, has the HBS skipper oinned in front for 11. Botha at three lasts just three balls before nicking off to Jaynul Islam. Goedeke joins de Mey with the Crows in deep.

Fletcher was the man with both the breakthroughs, van den Burg surviving a big shout for LBW only to be caught off a leading edge next ball. O’Dowd goes a couple of overs later courtesy a thick outside edge and a diving take by Montagu in front of first slip. Edwards and Ingram together now, and the Bloodhounds will feel they have a sniff here. Ahasan Malik shares the new ball.

And meanwhile Singh has finished it off, collecting a five-for in the process, as Justin Trijzelaar holes out to Nidamanuru at deep midwicket. Singh takes 5-25, pretty certainly his best Topklasse figures, and HCC will again be disappointed with their effort with the bat.

Saqib takes over in the final overs, hammering Dutt for 17 off the penultimate over, and going to his fifty in the process. With Shafiq contributing useful runs at the other end, it’s only off the final ball that Saqib is run out for 55. So Rotterdam end up where they promised to be for the first 40 overs after all.

Another for Singh, a little controversially: Brown slashes at a wideish delivery, maybe just touches it with the bottom of the foot of the bat, and Madgwick dives forward to grab it. There’s a question about whether he took it cleanly, but the umpire’s finger goes up and he has to go. Next over Singh does it again, as Patel gets under a pull and Smal runs in a long way from long on to take the catch. 4-20 for Vikram Singh.

Hermes fighting back in earnest: Mumba squeezes a catch to Jabarkhail at point off Dutt and departs for 2, then in Braat’s next over Affaan Rauf Tariq is pinned in front without scoring. Mohammad Shafiq the next to join Saqib.

A double strike by Singh, returning from the Scoreboard End. First Floyd is caught by Abhinay at deep cover for 8, and then, two balls later, Kloppenburg is unable to get on top of one which lifts a little, and is caught by Jack Cassidy at point. Two new men in now, Yash Patel and Josh Brown.

The brothers Zulfiqar get things moving again, but then Sikander holes out to Ash Ostling at deep midwicket off Olivier Elenbaas. Carl Mumba the new man.

Croes brings up his century a little fortuitously, edging Van Oosterom to the third man boundary, but then he and Rippon cut loose, 31 coming off the next 14 deliveries. HBS pick up two consolation wickets in the final over, first Rippon and then Klein falling to Goedeke, but the damage has been done, and the innings closes on 306 for five, Croes not out on 120, from 112 balls with 16 fours.

Price falls on 81, picking out Tushar Sharma on the midwicket boundary off Swanepoel’s bowling. Then it all goes fairly quickly: Buys picks up Schoonheim and Hoseinbaks, and the innings closes on 215. They’ll have to bowl well to defend that against Kampong’s top and middle order.

Overdijk goes, caught by Shariz off Sam Cassidy for 22. But Kloppenburg’s still there, on 61* now and batting with Clayton Floyd. VRA marginally on top, but they need to break this partnership.

Gondal’s the second Rotterdam batter to fall in the nineties, beaten by a Jabarkhail throw as he and Saqib attempt a quick single; his 96 came from 90 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Then Burhan Niaz, so destructive last week, doesn’t get all of a pull off Kothari, and is caught by Braat at midwicket for 2. Hermes are choking off some of Rotterdam’s momentum here.

De Lange DOES bring up back-to-back hundreds, carving Mason through cover point for the crucial single. But immediately afterwards he makes to reverse sweep De Mey, misses, and is bowled for exactly 100, made from 114 deliveries with eight fours. Michael Rippon returns to the Topklasse with nearly nine overs left..

Malik goes, swinging across the line at Jacod and pinned in front when the ball skids through. Siebe van Wingerden joins Price, but after a promising start he’s beaten by a return to the bowler’s end as they look for a second, and he’s run out. The Bloodhounds really need their tail to wag here, as Schoonheim joins Price on 79*.

Kloppenburg heaves Abhinay high over midwicket to go to 49*, then eases the returning Thakur behind point to bring up a very useful half-century. The game’s still nicely poised at De Diepput.

On the brink of a second consecutive century, Musa cuts Kothari, but he doesn’t get on top of it and Herrington takes the catch. So he has to make do with 98, made from 120 deliveries with eight fours; the Hermes fielders all run across to congratulate and commiserate with him for another superb innings. They may not be so happy to see Saqib Zulfiqar join Gondal, who’s on 84*.

Walbrugh persists with Mason, but De Lange is able to bring up the 200, smashing a friendly full toss over cover for four. He’s on 81* now, Croes on 71*, and the stand’s worth 138.

Ahsan Malik averages 14 with the bat in the Topklasse, but he’s doing a job for his team here, pulling Jacod wide of mid-on and going on to 25*. Price is on 62*, and this pair have now added 63 invaluable runs.

Just when it seemed that HCC might be getting on top, Abhinay gets the breakthrough: Staal, on 43, plays an awkward prod, scoops the ball up, and the bowler has an easy catch. Staal drops his bat in disgust, as well he might. Hidde Overdijk in at six, Kloppenburg on 29*.

They’re taking a drink at the Loopuyt, with Musa on 80* and Gondal on 7`1*. Dutt’s still only bowled two overs (at the cost of a single run), which seems a little strange in the circumstances. Jamil and Kothari operating at the moment, and going at about five an over.

De Lange and Croes have now put on 109, on 63* and 62* respectively. De Lange not afraid to use his feet to Mason’s spin, though Croes has to scramble back after one gets past his bat. In contrast to last week, Walbrugh is mixing up his bowlers (seven used so far), but the breakthrough is yet to materialise.

The left-handed Price sweeps Ingram for a single to bring up his maiden Topklasse fifty, with Malik still providing valuable support at the other end. Then a series of twos off Buys taken him along to 56*, and VOC are achieving some much-needed stability in the middle order.

Kloppenburg, who had a pretty mercurial start to his Topklasse career three years ago and hasn’t quite managed to maintain it since, has taken some time to settle, but now he slog-sweeps Shariz purposefully over square leg for six. A string of singles takes him to 22*, with Staal composed at the other end on 37*. Vital partnership for HCC, this.

The stand is now up to 131, and Braat has used seven bowlers as he searshes for the breakthrough. Musa now on 73*, Gondal on 55*, and Rotterdam are building the basis for another monster score..

Fifty for van der Meulen as he rocks back to cart Jacod for a monster six over midwicket, but he goes in the next over pulling Bangs straight to the man in front of square. Malik in with Price now, who’s closing in on a fifty of his own.

HBS still searching for that third wicket, Julian de Mey into the attack for the 26th. Croes blocks a couple and then pulls out the reverse sweep to collect four through third. He’s on 37* now, de Lange just three away from fifty at the other end.

Another down at de Diepput, Banerjee back in the crease and pops a leading edge back at Ahmad, who holds a simple return catch to trigger drinks. Kloppenburg in at four after the break, Staal still there on 28*.

Hundred up for Rotterdam, and fifty for Musa Ahmad, who brings up the milestone chopping Jabarkhail down through third for four. Gondal’s promotion to three is working out well too, as a couple of overs later he takes a knee to the Belgian leggie and dumps him over the on side for six.

Caution still at de Diepput though, as Staal and Banerjee look to steady things after those two early wickets. Shariz Ahmad into the attack, oh and there goes the caution, Staal makes room and heaves him over cow for six..

Price survives a big shout for LBW as Jacod spins one into his pads. Drifting on down leg maybe? Bangs from the other end comes in for some tap, van der Meulen pulls a short one to the rope square, then drives through extra for four more. Consolidation phase over it seems.

Croes getting stuck into Kamran at the back end of the 17th, down the track and staright back over his head for four, then jumps back in the crease to pull round the corenr for another.

Thakur on for Hake, and he catches the edge of Gorlee’s bat, Madgwick doing the rest. The skipper goes without scoring, Banerjee the new man.

Kent Goedeke on from the Pavilion End, but it’s Van Oosterom who gets the breakthrough, bowling Hatzoglou for 39 as he attempts an expansive off drive. Noah Croes the new man.

Kumar absolutely ripping VOC apart now: Montague nicks off the Van den Berg for 13, and four balls later Francois Fourie is caught by Edwards without scoring. Ethan Price in to join Van der Meulen, and the two overseas have a big job ahead of them.

Musa has picked up where he left off last week, proceeding effortlessly to 26*, with Gondal on 13*. Olivier Elenbaas has replaced Dutt from the Railway End.

Hake gets the breakthrough, as Zac Worden clips him low to midiwicket, and Jack Cassidy takes the catch. Boris Gorlee succeeds him.

Voorburg moving along briskly, with Hatzoglou on 36* off 28 deliveries and De Lange on 13*. Joris van Oosterom replaced Klein after he’d bowled just two overs.

Another for Kumar: Harhangi is caught by Ingram without scoring, bringing Jason van der Meulen to the crease.

A wicket at the Loopuyt: Minhas, having twice hammered Braat square for back to back fours, plays around a straight one and is trapped in front and departs for 17. Muhammad Gondal the new man.

They’ve started in the Hague, HCC winning the toss and batting. Staal takes two off Sharad Hake’s first over, then Vikram Singh’s is spoiled only by a wide.

Levitt goes cheaply, undone by a peach of a delivery by Botha and his middle stump sent flying. Cedric de Lange the new man.

The absence of news from De Diepput makes one wonder whether the ground is living up to its name again, after some overnight rain.

Montague and De Kok make a steady start for VOC, Montague hitting a six off Lorenzo Ingram’s first over, but then Shashank Kumar strikes: De Kok caught by Max O’Dowd for 5. Roman Harhangi in at three.

In the game of the day at the Loopuyt Oval, Braat won the toss and invited Sikander Zulfiqar to have a bat. Aryan Dutt opens with a maiden from the Railway End to Musa Ahmad, who survives a not entirely ridiculous LBW appeal. A wide and a single apiece for Shoaib Minhas and Musa of the second, bowled by Braat.

Kyle Klein, back for HBS, starts from the Paddock End, bowling to Levitt, who’s opened with Hatzoglou. The fourth delivery’s a bouncer, which passes over Levitt’s head and is called wide. Then Levitt gets off the mark with a single as he tucks the ball into the leg side. Lehan Botha to bowl the second.

That is indeed the case: Rippon and Hatzoglou in for Voorburg, not sure at whose expense.

It looks as if HBS may be fielding at Westvliet, but there’s no confirmation as yet.

Tim de Kok has won the toss at Maarschalkerweerd and elected to bat. He leads an unchanged side, while Kampong make two changes: Pienaar Buys and Gert Swanepoel are in for Van der Harten and Gopinath.