Topklasse Live | Round 3 | As it Happened

Shariz bowls the last with 13 required. Shinwari pulls the first for a single, then Shahzad comes down the pitch swinging, misses, and is stumped by Prince. Sajjad Kamal in with 12 required from four. He manages a single, then two for Shinwari. Barring extras, that settles it. Just one from the next, and then one more. The spinners have turned this around, as VRA win by 6 runs.

Another wheel goes rolling down the road as Zulfiqar holes out to Smal at long on off Floyd. Punjab have lost four wickets for 26 since the resumption. Khurram Shahzad the new man.

Another goes, as Butt is called through for a second by Zulfiqar, and is beaten by Constant’s throw from long on. Shariz takes the bails off smartly. Wheels starting to come off, and Shinwari joins Zulfiqar with 18 required from 12 deliveries.

And Floyd gets the other set batter: Minhas, on 63, tries a less audacious slog-sweep, but the result’s the same as Smal takes the catch at wide mid-on. Samir Butt in to join Zulfiqar, and ladies and gentlemen, we have a battle on our hands!.

More singles, but Shariz is convinced he’s got Minhas leg-before. The umpire, however, disagrees. But then Vandiar produces a mighty slog-sweep, and is caught by Fletcher in the deep. He goes for 50, and Sikander Zulfiqar joins Minhas.

Five more off Floyd, and with Minhas on 60* and Vandiar 48* Punjab can afford to cruise at the moment.

Shariz from the City End, and there’s a string of five singles. Floyd to bowl from Mulder’s End.

News from the Bos: play will resume at 19:30. With 11 overs coming off, the revised target is 176, so Punjab will need another 43 from seven overs.

14 runs came off the last two overs for Molenaar’s wicket, but (provisionally) HBS win by 11 runs.

But in the 48th Croes, on 76 (I think) tried to belt De Villiers into the Bosjes van Pex and was caught at long on, and with 28 needed off 14 deliveries the game was pretty much settled.

But in the 48th Croes, on 76 (I think) tried to belt De Villiers into the Bosjes van Pex and was caught at long on, and with 28 needed off 14 deliveries the game was pretty much settled.

Meanwhile, I am attempting to establish just what the winning margin was at Craeyenhout. So far I can tell you (E&OE) that Croes and Molenaar took the score to 247 for six with four overs left, Croes on 70*. 41 required off four.

They’re off for rain in the Bos, with Punjab comfortably ahead on DLS. By17, I am informed.

Eales switches as well, now from Mulder’s End. But Minhas and Vandiar continue, moving to 53* and 39* respectively. Floyd returns from the City End.

Confirmation that HBS have indeed won, although it seems that the scorecard breakdown has deprived us of the opportunity to tell you about what was by all accounts another very close game. We await more details.

Just the one game still going now, and it’s still nip and tuck with Minhas now on 50*, Vandiar on 26*. Fletcher back from the City End.

They’re done at Craeyenhout, and I conclude from the body language that HBS have won by an indeterminate number of runs. No doubt we’ll have something like a final scorecard in due course.

Shariz on from Mulder’s End, and Minhas has lofted him effortlessly over square leg for six. He goes to 40*, with Vandiar on 15*. Anybody’s game in the Bos.

But Croes has gone, not sure for how many (or indeed what the total is), since the live card has now collapsed at Craeyenhout as well. But it looks like curtains for Voorburg.

Leijer finished with four for 23, a sterling effort from him, and Jed Wiggins finished it off with three for 16. A commanding effort in the field from HCC, with only the openers Mitchell and Tim Etman and Luuk Kroesen in the lower middle order reaching double figures. HCC win by 60 runs.

It’s not all over at Craeyenhout, where Voorburg need 78 off the last eight. As long as Croes is there, you have to say, they’ve still got a chance. He’s on 45* now, Molenaar still with him.

Riaz smashes Abid for six over long on, but two balls later he pulls him straight to Eales and departs for 16. Jonathan Vandiar in at four.

It’s all over at Thurlede, and somewhat belatedly we can tell you that the rot was started by Teun Leijer, who picked up Tim Etman, Lorenzo Ingram, Stan van Troost and Victor Lubbers in double-quick time as Excelsior subsided from 59 for two to 82 for six.

And the swing looks pretty decisive, as De Villiers removes both Boissevains and with successive deliveries, Philippe trying to hit him over cover and skying the ball high enough for Scholte to run some distance and take the catch, and then (after another drink) Laurens lunging foward and smartly stumped by the keeper. Croes is still there on 38*, but he and Michael Molenaar have a lot of work to do.

A balance now swinging to HBS, as Kulkarni drives square at Boddendijk but uppishly, and is caught by Del Bianco at deepish point. Philippe Boissevain in to join Croes, who has gone on to 36* as De Villiers returns.

Ashir Abid replaces Fletcher, and Minhas swings him behind square for four. And then does it again. Punjab needed those shackles to be broken. Double change, with Floyd on from the City End.

And indeed, HCC need just one more wicket to collect their first points of the competition. Just their first game, of course.

No back-to-back century for Kaplan, as he makes to cut Boddendijk and gets a tickle to Scholte, who takes a smart catch standing up. Nirav Kulkarni in to join Croes, with the game in the balance.

Musa turns Eales off his hip to the square leg boundary, but in general Fletcher and Eales have things under control here. And in his next Fletcher traps Musa in front. Mohsin Riaz in at three.

Kaplan goes past fifty, and Croes has 27*. Voorburg need 127 off 18 overs.

A carrier pigeon gamely makes it through to inform me that Excelsior are truly on the ropes. Just a matter of time, you’d think.

Benno Boddendijk and Stephan Vink operating now, as Kaplan and Croes set about replicating last week’s record-breaking stand. It’s still a big ask, but on the artificial outfield at Craeyenhout 287’s probably not quite as imposing a total as it would be anywhere else.

They’re back on in the Bos, Ben Fletcher starting from Mulder’s End to Musa and Minhas. A single for Musa and a wide off the first. Elijah Eales from the City End.

Mr Drinks and De Mey do indeed do the trick, Gigani swinging across the line and the bowler hitting middle and off. Gigani made 71, and Kaplan’s on 37* as he’s joined by Noah Croes.

Fortunately, the old ways still work. We can now inform you that the chaos is indeed both on and off the field at Thurlede, and Excelsior have been losing plenty of wickets. Brothers Joost and Luuk Kroesen have the task of saving Excelsior’s blushes, if not the game.

They’re having a drink at Craeyenhout, with Gigani now on 70* and Kaplan, following up his century last week, on 35*. Still a long way to go, of course, but it’s fair to say that HBS will be hoping that Mr Drinks picks up a wicket.

I’d love to be able to give you a score from Thurlede, but the live card appears to have packed it in. From the pictures, I can tell you that wickets are falling, and it looks as if Excelsior may be in a spot of bother. Hopefully more anon.

No miracle at the Hazelaarweg, just two very valuable points for VOC. McKenzie clips Tom Hoornweg off his toes to the midwicket boundary to move to 47*, and VOC win by 7 wickets.

Gigani continues to blast away as Voorburg chase that considerable HBS total: he’s on 63* now, with six fours and three sixes, and Kaplan’s on 28*. De Villiers and De Mey are looking for the breakthrough, but so far it’s looking promising for the visitors.

Singh gets the breakthrough at last, Bettelheim coming down the wicket to him and lofting him to Balwantsingh at long off. He goes for 56, and Tim de Kok joins McKenzie, who’s on 37*. With only 18 more needed, Sparta are looking for miracles here.

A fourth for Musa, as Eales top-edges him to Minhas at third man, bringing in Ben Fletcher. Who proceeds to lift Sikander Zulfiqar over the rope at long on. Iles is run out off what looked like the final ball of the 47th over, but there’s one further delivery which yields a single. No doubt all will become clear in due course. Musa finishes with four for 37.

Manminder Singh on from the Pavilion End with Max Hoornweg bowling from the other, but Bettelheim and McKenzie march on, the stand now worth 78. A big NRR gain for VOC is seemingly impending, and a corresponding blow for Sparta.

Vink’s got De Lange, skying the simplest of catches for Martijn Scholte, behind the stumps today, and departing for 4. Gavin Kaplan joins Gigani, who has hit Vink for six and now takes three boundaries off a Singh over to race to 41* from 30.

Nashier doesn’t last long, bowled by Musa for 6. Thomas Iles in to join Eales for the final overs.

Daniel Crowley takes over at the City End, and he gets the initial breakthrough for HCC: Mitchell plays on, reaching a little outside off stump, and departs for 16. Roel Verhagen joins Etman, who’s on 26*.

Fifty for Bettelheim, as Sparta continue to search for the wicket they need.

Two in an over for Minhas: first Floyd slaps him back straight and is caught by Shafiq at long off, and then Constant, having survived one stumping appeal from Fawad Shinwari, comes down the pitch to the next, misses, and this time the issue is unequivocal. Udit Nashier joins Elijah Eales at the crease. Usually (well, sometimes) reliable sources inform me that renowned former Australian rugby international John Eales is in the Bos today to watch his son play.

Bettelheim and McKenzie are halfway to the target, with the former decidedly the more aggressive. He’s reached 44* off 51, with McKenzie on 9*. Skipper Martijn Snoep’s on now from the Airport End, with his side desperately needing a breakthrough. Or three.

Voorburg have started their chase at Craeyenhout, Singh and Ferdi Vink (in the side for the first time this season) taking the new ball. Gigani and Cedric de Lange open for the champions.

They’re back on at Thurlede, where Mitchell and Tim Etman pick up a boundary apiece from Floris de Lange’s first over. Leonard to bowl the second from the Chalet End.

Rasool has gone, swinging across the line at Musa and given leg-before for 74. They’ve since had a drink at the Bos, and Minhas returns from Mulder’s End. A misfield yields three for new man Adam Constant, whereupon Floyd lofts him over long on for six. The long delay suggests immersion, since there’s a water hazard in them there parts. Minhas looks less than happy about the state of the ball when it eventually returns, leading to a further delay. Minhas keeps it to singles after that.

Umar Baker still operating from the Pavilion End at the Hazelaarweg, and Bettelheim eases him through backward point for four. then driving him through extra cover for another off the last of the over. Sparta have very little margin for error here.

And smart he is, fifty for Ostling as he seals the victory driving Kohari square for four through point. Or does he? Apparently not – it’s held up inside the rope. They’ve run three but they only needed the one so that’s all he’ll get. He finishes on 48* from 50 balls as Hermes win by 3 wickets.

Musa Ahmad has cause to regret dismissing his brother as new bat Floyd takes him for three consecutive boundaries next over. 150 comes up in the next, proper #intent on display from the hosts here.

VOC lose another as Schierhout spoons Fraser to mid on, could prove a nervy chase at this rate. McKenzie in.

Short and wide from Sayed and Klijnhans prods it to point. Nick Statham joins Ostling, who slams a drag-down from Sheensa over the square rope for six first ball of the next. Two more boundaries off the over and Ostling still just has room to squeeze in a fifty if he’s smart about it.

A handy cameo from Vink lifts HBS to 287-6 at the break, did look like it could have been a lot more at one point though.

Musa Ahmad into the attack and does his little brother all ends up, bowled for 16. Floyd in at five.

They’re back on at Hazelaarweg meanwhile, and Sparta have the first of the early wickets they need, Baker trapping Fourie in front with his first delivery. Bettelheim joins Schierhout.

Klijnhans and Ostling have steadied the ship at Harga, and are now accelerating into the final stretch. 24 to get.

Good effort from Ingram and Ralston at the death is spoiled rather by five wides down leg from the latter in the last. HCC keep pushing for every run, Leonard commendably runs himself out on the last ball after bunting back to Ralston, 186 will be the target.

Wickets tumble at the death at Crayenhout, van Vliet nicks off del Bianco, then Scholte, though not before the latter had taken him for two boundaries. Slot from Molenaar next over and de Villiers dumps him high over the midwicket rope, but pushed a bit wider next ball and looks to go inside out and caught in the deep on the off side for 82. De Mey in now with Ferdi Vink of all people..

Rasool goes to fifty flicking Shahzad fine for a hard-run three, and they come at a good clip too, just 60 balls. Three balls later breaks out the slog-sweep and just clears the man at deep backward square, who must have been a long way in off the boundary because apparently it’s still bounced inside the rope.

Charumbira and Crowley’s resistance comes to an end as the latter edges Ralston behind on the cut, but it’s been a more than useful partnership. Leonard in with three to go.

Elenbaas off the mark clipping Reddy behind sqaure for four, but two balls later loses his off stump on the drive. CP Klijnhans in, could this still get interesting?

Walbrugh and de Villiers had been rocking along at tens since the 200 came up, the former closing in on a ton. Van Vliet bags a crucial wicket in terms of Damage-limitation, Walbrugh jumps across his stumps, van Vliet goes wider, and a feathered edge well taken by Croes. Walbrugh falls for 97 off 100. Del Bianco joins de Villiers, who’s on 73* off 59.

Charumbira and Crowley have staged an impressive fightback for HCC, bringing the 150-up with seven overs to go. Could get something not too far off par still from here.

DDC starts in typical fasshion carving Reddy for back-to-back sixed over cover point, but two balls later shanks the same shot to extra cover. Oli Elenbaas at three.

VRA two down, Sikander Zulfiqar gets one to jag in late and low to Smal and into the pads. Was that going down leg? Consensus on the balcony is that it definitely was but then this is the VRA balcony. Shariz Ahmad in, and drinks.

They’re back on at Harga meanwhile, Ostling and Doyle-Calle opening as Hermes set off in pursuit of the lowly 83-run target. Sayed and Reddy share the new ball.

Sparta down to their last pair now as Hoseinbaks removes Hoornweg and Snoep in succession. Fraser decides the time for caution is long gone, skips down to loft Hoseinbaks over extra cover for six, the first of the innings. The counterattack doesn’t last long though, he holes out straight off McKenzie in the next and Sparta are all out for 122.

200 up for HBS with ten to go, Walbrugh and de Villiers well set, could be in for a big finish at Craeyenhout.

Hosts have done well to get through the early phase, looks to be getting easier as Rasool flicks Tariq for four through fine leg and then clubs him straight for four more two balls later. Khurram Shahzad from the other end is cut through backward point by Smal first ball of the next, VRA motoring along nicely now.

Another for Luuk Kroesen as Banerjee goes back to one he shouldn’t have and is bowled, HCC innings crumbling fast now. Charumbira in with Crowley.

Fifty partnership in quick time between Walbrugh and de Villiers. Boissevain bowled out now, Kaplan into the attack.

Hundred up for Sparta too but at the cost of two more wickets, Singh LBW to Arnav Jain missing a sweep and Baker trapped in front by a full ball from Hoseinbaks. Hoornweg joins Fraser.

Hundred up for HCC but they lose another, Patel caught backward square top edging a sweep off Luuk Kroesen. Crowley in with Banerjee now.

Kamal with the breakthrough here, jags in from fourth stump and keeps a shade low on Prince, who is pinned in front for 22. Johan Smal joins Rasool, who’s on 11*.

Braat does the needful, bags the last wicket with a length ball that climbs a shade on Sayed and a top-edge is pouched at deep point. ACC all out for 82..

Boissevain gets the breakthrough at Craeyenhout, though hard to say he’s earned it. Not the best ball he’s ever bowled as Mason spoons a low full toss to long on for a creditable 40. De Villiers and Walbrugh kick into a higher gear now though, HBS upping the rate rapidly as they race past 150.

The slide continues at Harga, Ekrami doing the damage now as Kothari holes out to long on and then Hans is pinned in front missing a flick to leg. Skipper brings himself on now to clean up the tail, takes Arya’s leg stump, just one to get now with Sayed and Reddy the last pair.

Another down at Thurlede as Gorlee is done by Ingram’s wiles, woodwork a state. Patel joins Banerjee.

But what’s happened to the watchfulness at Hazelaarweg? After a 62-run opening stand Sparta are four down in a flash. A tired-looking pull from Singh off Harhangi goes straight into the hands of midwicket, Balwnatsingh presses on with Mudford but chops Hoseinbaks on a couple of overs later, Martina in and sells Mudford a dummy and they both end up at the same end, then two balls later he pops a return catch to Schoonheim. Oh make that five down because as I type Schoonheim castles Bashir with a slower ball into middle. What a collapse that was. Manminder Singh and Fraser in now to try to repair the damage.

Some more faffing about and three minutes delay, but we’re finally away. Shafiq’s left arm spin to start, Demari Prince facing with Rasool at the other end. Watchful to start as Prince blocks out a maiden. Kamal to share the new ball.

Steady progress for the Crows still, Walbrugh and Mason’s partnership proving a stubborn one as Croes cycles through his options. Boissevain replaces de Lange.

Left arm spin at one end now as Ekrami takes over from Oli Elenbaas, but Ralph bowls through from the other end and a bags a third, Sheena trying to hit out and shanking a full slower ball high into the off side, safely pouched. Kothari joins Hans.

All clear for a 12.30 start here at the Bos, 47 overs each way. Might even see some sunshine…

Circumspection still the order of the day at Hazelaarweg. Sparta’s openers still there on 19* each going at a shade under .5 runs per ball. Aaddit Jain into the attack now.

Double strike at Thurlede as Lubbers has and Wiggins caught behind in the space of five balls. Banerjee in.

HBS have recovered well too, Walbrugh and Mason taking them past fifty. Floris de Lange into the attack, Tom de Leede at the other end.

Another down at Harga as Raza miscues Ralph Elenbaas and is caught in the covers. Sheena is joined by Hans as ACC limp to the end of the powerplay.

Another inspection at noon, general feeling is optimistic.

Gorlee and McInenrney have weathered the early wicket well, HCC recovering to 50 without further loss before thefiele dspreads. Blankenstein and Lubbers for the hosts now.

Singh and Balwantsingh still exercising discretion, a few bad balls have been put away but the rate is threes on the nose in the powerplay. First change in the bowling as Harhangi replaces Jain.

Another passing shower here at the Bos, a good deal heavier but it’s moved off already, should be fine for a while from here on. They’re out for a look now.

Collapse is on at Harga meanwhile, Potdar pulls Oli Elenbaas straight to square leg, van der Merwe chops Ralph Elenbaas on in the next over, and Zaidi goes next ball, trapped in front by one that jags back in from a fourth stump line..

Frist down at Craeyenhout, full outside off from van Vliet, Botha flashes and edges high to first slip. Walbrugh in at three.

Ahmed goes early at Harga after a promising start, spooning Elenbaas to long on. Ben vd Merwe at three..

Cautious start from Sparta, Singh and Balwantsingh having a good look out there. Arnav Jain and Jock McKenzie for the hosts.

Mason and Botha open the batting for HBS, and looking pretty decent at the minute. Botha puts a slot ball from Molenaar away over midwicket for six. Van Vliet from the other end.

We’ve got a toss in here at the Bos, VRA win and will bat. Drizzle back now though. might be a bit more waiting to do first.

Early breakthrough at Thurlede, Niels Etman has Tonny Staal feeling outside off and edged behind. Gorlee joins McInenrney.

The brothers Elenbaas share the new ball at Harga, Ahmed and Potdar open the batting for ACC. Ahmed clips Olivier Elenbaas of the pads through square for the first boundary fourth ball, the only one so far, but Ralph is wayward in the next giving up three wides, ACC off to a brisk start..

Sparta win the toss and will bat first at Hazelaarweg.

ACC inserted by Hermes at Harga.

HCC win the toss and will bat first at Thurlede.

HBS will bat first at Craeyenout, at VCC’s invitation.

Delayed toss here at the Bos. Covers are off now though. Inspection at 11.