Topklasse Live | Round 4 | As it Happened

Sparta stumbling toward the finish line as Ahmadi chops Heggelman on for four, Malik in to join Kroesen and Etman back into the attack. He’s coming in off a near-full run up and seeimingly trying to bowl pace on first ball, slips out of his hand and cut away for four on the full. Too high that and a no ball signalled, Etman struggling with both the wet ball and slippery surface. Just can’t land it, twice overpitched and driven for four by Malik, then wide almost off the mat, an anti-climactic end in the drizzle. Sparta win by 3 wickets.

A second for Ingram, and it’s Bukhari that has to go three short of a well-deserved fifty. 85 balls it may have taken him for his 47, but he asking rate required nothig more. He’s left the lower oder just 25 runs to get and the better part of eight overs to get them in. But that won’t help, Latif guides his second ball straight to slip seemingly off the face of the bat. Ahmadi in, and Malik still to come, but just a hint of an opening for Excelsior here, and pressure on Joost Kroesen to deny them.

And a much-needed breakthrough for Excelsior, Rens van Troost the man to find it. Full and just nipping in a tad beats the bat and into off stump. Joost Kroesen makes his way to the middle, to the vocal delight of his former team-mates.

Well that didn’t take long. Berry only passed the hundred a few overs ago, and it’s taken him just 30-odd balls to make that 150, cutting Minhas away behind square for the requisite single and winning the match in the process. Edwards unbeaten on 37, and VOC win by 3 wickets.

Meanwhile in the comparative serenity of Bermweg, Clark and Bukhari continue in calm and unhurried pursuit of the target, the Sparta top three having put the hosts well ahead of the asking rate, and indeed game.

All sorts of action there, Shafiq squares Berry up, beats the bat and raps him on the pad, huge appeals as the ball dribbles out to backward point but no interest from the umpire. Edwards has taken a couple of steps down at the other end, prompting a shy at the stumps as he retreats, looks comfortably back though as the direct hit ricochets off the stumps for four overthrows. Punjab are incensed, gesticulating at the broken wicket, then just vaguely around at the injustice of it all. Berry compounds their irritation by taking 14 runs off Shafiq’s next to go past 100.

Saqib removes Upadhyaya LBW forcing Edwards back to the middle earlier than he’s like. Berry still going at a fair lick though, He’s on a run-a-ball 83*, 91 needed off 22.

Nelson strikes at Bermweg, Tarr takes a knee to Baker but miscues the slog-sweep and caught long on for 45. Clark in to join Bukhari, who’s taking his now-customary measure approach to the innings, on 9 off 26.

Double strike for Tariq next over, Niaz missing a glance to leg and pinned in front, Schoonheim gloving the next to first slip. VOC collapsing in a heap here. Berry still there though, and brings up his fifty flicking Sikander through fine leg for four. Upadhyaya with him now.

The indispenable Ingram gets the breakthrough for Excelsior, Ferguson swiping across the line and picking out midwicket, gone for 37. Bukhari joins Tarr.

De Kok becomes the latest bat this weekend to fail to clear the long on rope at the ZOmercomplex, holing out off Tariq for 10. Buurman lasts two balls before shovelling a catch to cover, Niaz in with Berry now and a long way to go. Plenty of time to get there though.

First down at Bermweg after a very aggressive start to the second innings, Raza puts Hart back over his head for four, the pulls behind square for the same, but two balls later looks to cut up over third but can’t clear him. Tarr in with Ferguson now.

Fourie doesn’t long outlast O’Dowd, caught on the long on rope off Tariq for 10. Edwards in, but looks to be having trouble with his bottom hand, keeps taking it off the bat. Took two catches in the outfield in the first innings, maybe forgot he wasn’t wearing the gloves? And yeah looks like he’s coming off. De Kok replaces him.

Fourie and O’Dowd came racing out of the blocks for VOC, rocking along at tens for the first few overs, but Aaliyan Mehmood cuts the partnership short turning one through O’Dowd and clipping off the bail. Berry joins Fourie.

Ingram goes for 27 lofting a full toss from Malik high and straight but not far enough, and a flurry of wickets follows as the lower order looks to hit out at the death. Ahmadi bags three in a row, then Snoep his first to keep Excelsior quiet in the final overs. 222 will be the target, and the hosts the happier at the break.

Clark has Verhagen caught slip for 70 right after drinks, but Hart is joined by Ingram and the pair keep the scoreboard ticking at a much improved rate. Clark stikes again however to remove Hart’s off stump, gone for a 37-ball 44. Niels Etman joins Ingram, who’s in the twenties. Six overs left for them to get something competitive.

Aided by a handy cameo from Shafiq Saqib drags Punjab toward the 250-mark, but falls six short of a ton shanking Niaz just square of cover, where de Kok makes good ground to hold a diving catch. And then it’s all over, Hussain drives Upadhyaya to Edwards at extra cover and Punjab all out for 244 with nine balls unused. Generally a somewhat above par score even with the Zomercomplex’s short boundaries, but VOC have plenty of firepower at the top of the order.

Signs of acceleration now at Berweg, Verhagen and Hart playing with rather more freedom in the run-up to drinks.

Another for Upadyaya as Usman skies one behind square and is caught on the rope. Saqib still there though and has his fifty. Mehmood in with him now.

Slow going at Bermweg and Heggelman and Verhagen continue to eke out runs, Verhagen into the 40s now, Heggelman on 20* but neither striking above 50. Excelsior 81-1 at the halfway stage. Clark into the attack for the hosts now.

Three for Schoonheim as Asad picks out deep midwicket after drinks. Sqib presses on with Minhas, but a few overs later the introduction of Upadhyaya into the attack yields two wickets in rapid succession, Minhas spectacularly caught by Upadyaya himself diving to his left, then Sikander caught behind two balls later.

Heggelman and Verhagen rebuilding for Excelsior meanwhile after the early loss of Tim Etman, caught off Malik in the first over.

Asad and Rehmat Zulfiqar’s half-century opening stand is broken by Jelte Schoonheim in the 12th over, Rehmat flicking uppishly to midwicket where Scott Edwards, having relinquished the gloves to Fourie, holds a fine low catch. Riaz in. And Riaz out in Schoonheim’s next, a looping full toss is pulled into the hands of deep square. Shouts of “no ball” from the sidelines but that was hit around waist height and dipping. Saqib in.

Sparta win the toss at Bermweg, and will field first. Mahmoon Latif into the side, looks like Bashit missing out..

Tim de Kok calls correctly at the Zomercomplex, and VOC will have a bowl. Pieter Seelaar and Arnav Jain sitting out today, Francois Fourie and Atse Buurman into the side. Punjab look unchanged at first glance.

That’s the game, surely? Tidy over from Kingma build the pressure, Walbrugh on strike for the next from van Vliet and looking to stay that way, gets away with one hurried two but next ball punches out toward long on, slips at the bowler’s end in the turn and well short coming back for the second. And yep, next ball it’s all over, Boddendijk swings for the midwicket fence, good connection but not good enough and helf on the rope. Voorburg win by 40 runs.

Klein’s first ball is short on fourth stump and Walbrugh pus it away over the on side for six, next ball is fuller and Walbrugh goes straight, six more and that’s his century off 80 balls. 49 needed off five.

Dug in short by Kingma and sits up for de Mey, who looks to swing it away over the on side but can’t clear the man on the rope, Scholte in to join Walbrugh, and all the pressure back on the hosts. Ryan Klein returns.

Walbrugh gets after van Vliet now, clubbing him wide of mid on for four then going arial over square for six. He’s into the 80s now and looks intent on getting it done himself. De Mey is no passenger though, gimme ball on leg stump is put away for four behind square. Game’s not done yet. Still Kingma from the other end.

Van Vliet back and two dots to start the 41st, Adendorff succumbs to the pressure and tries to club him straight, Musa round from long off and takes the catch just inside the rope. De Mey in to join Walbrugh, who’s on 73*.

Bukhari from the River End, and Hans clips his first ball effortlessly behind square leg for six. Two balls later it’s all over as he lofts him over wide mid-on and they run two and ACC win by six wickets. Two much-needed points for ACC!

200 up for HBS as Adendorff lifts a lowish full toss back over Kingma;s head for four, Walbrugh goes to fifty next over sweeping Ahmad over the midwicket rope for six, then goes again next ball. A shade over 9.5 an over required from the last 11 overs.

Snoep brings Ahmadi back from the Uilenstede End as Raza and Hans pick off the runs in singles and twos. They’re not the only ones, but this ACC side has been unrecognisable from that which performed so poorly last weekend. Just eight needed now, so the answer to my earlier question is looking like ‘Enough!’

Malik on from the River End, and Kuhn slog-sweeps him down the throat of Faisan Bashir on the midwicket boundary. 28 still needed, as Mahesh Hans comes in to join Raza. Plenty of overs, but how much more batting do ACC have?

Kingma back after drinks, Walbrugh and Adendorff keeping their powder dry for now. They’re facing a monstrous task of course but they’re both set now. Shariz still from the other end.

But Potdar misses out on his second hundred of the week, skying Bukhari out to deep midwicket, where Kroesen is under it when it descends. He goes for 89; Anis Raza joins Kuhn with 46 still required.

Last role of the dice now for VRA as Jack Balbirnie comes into the attack. Minhas puts his first ball away for four and single figures need. And the game doesn’t last the over, the final ball is cut away for four more and that’s the match, Minhas finishes unbeaten on 80* as Punjab win by six wickets.

Ryan Klein’s had a tough day so far but that’s a crucial wicket at he comes back into the attack and finds Barresi’s outside edge. Double after thirty would get HBS close, but the “with wickets in hand” caveat to that adage doesn’t bode well. Adendorff in with Walbrugh now, but not much batting thereafter.

Bukhari’s reward is to come into the attack for the first time, while at the other end Singh, having trouble finding a length, is smacked for a six and a couple of fours by Potdar, who races on to 86*. This is now comfortably his best Topklasse score, beating his 62* against Voorburg in 2020. Snoep switches to the River End in response, only to be swung away for four by Kuhn..

Fifty for Minhas tucking van Luin to leg for a single, and that will be drinks. Punjab still very much in the driver’s seat in this chase, just 39 needed with 15 overs and 6 wickets in hand.

A long-sought breakthrough for Sparta as Hobson rocks back and pulls Singh straight to Bukhari at midwicket. Kuhn in to join Potdar, who’s on 66* now. Bukhari from the other end.

Van Luin returns to replace Turmaine with Nelson on the board, and it pays off immediately for VRA as Zulfiqar chases a wide full ball and is caught in the cordon for 46. Saqib in at six, Dutt back at the other end, Minhas still there four short of fifty.

Shariz Ahmad back into the attack and immediately back in the wickets. Three balls into his third and he does Klein all ends up, falling over the delivery and dead in front. Barresi in with HBS still 200 behind.

Speaking of, VRA are in increasingly dire need of a breakthrough as Asad and Minhas continue to build. Fifty partnership up and it’s taking the game away from VRA. Shayan Moodley into the attack now.

Hobson brings up the hundred guiding Joost Kroesen past point for one, Potdar brings up his own fifty flicking Ahmadi down leg after surviving seriosu LBW shout two balls earlier. ACC well on course, Sparta need wickets from somewhere.

Quite a day Levitt’s having as he floats a slower one into the base of Singh’s off stump. 2 for 2 in 2 his figures as Walbrugh makes his way to the middle.

No room for both Naqash and Raxworthy to get fifty, looks like the latter wants it more as he advances on Hoornweg and drives straight to level the scores. Hoornweg denies them both though with an over-enthusiastic bouncer, which is rightly called wide. Raxworthy left on 46*, Naqash on 40* as Salland win by 7 wickets.

Snoep himself on from the Uilenstede End and he gets the breakthrough in his second over: Ahmed beaten by a full delivery and struck on the pad. He goes for 24, and Thomas Hobson joins Potdar.

Abid bowls his full quota up top, finishing with a maiden to Minhas and figures of 3-32 in 10. Dutt still at the other end, and a maiden from him too. Looks like Turmaine coming on to replace Abid.

Mason loses another partner as Mees van Vliet strikes with his fifth ball, Ahmed swiping over a straight one. Not the wicket they need tough. Manjinder Singh in and a lofted drive for four first ball. Looks like Levitt coming on to bowl, and so he does. With immediate effect as Mason drives his first delivery straight to cover. Gone for a 40-ball 68. Kyle Klein comes in at five, seems as though HBS are planning on saving Walbrugh and Barresi for the back end.

Naqash and Raxworthy rapidly putting this game to bed. Naqash pulls out the slog swep to put Seelaar over the square boundary, then Raxworthy dances down at Jain to go staight for a one-bounce four.

Snoep himself on from the Uilenstede End and he gets the breakthrough in his second over: Ahmed beaten by a full delivery and struck on the pad. He goes for 24, and Thomas Hobson joins Potdar.

Mason brings up his fifty with a pick-up shot over midwicket for six off Klein, then pulls out a lovely on drive for four more. Not sure I like this match-up for VCC.

Mason continues to profit off pace, so Engelbrecht brings Shariz Ahmad into the attack, whcih as usual proves a smart move. Mason pulls a shortish one round the corner for four, but Pote feathers one through replicate the sot three balls later. Mason still there though on 42 off just 28 balls. Adil Ahmed joins him, Ryan Klein still at the other end.

Three for Abid! Sikander makes the same mistake as Riaz, chasing a wide one and feathering through, Scully more assure taking that one. .

Ahmadi on early from the River End as Snoep looks for the breakthrough. Malik’s getting a bit too straight, and Potdar and Ahmed are looking pretty comfortable so far, the latter untroubled even when Ahmadi bowls him a high full toss.

Pieter Seelaar into the attck for VOC! Naqash has a look, then brings up the hundred for Salland with a push into the off side for one.

Arjan Dutt into the attack now for VRA, replacing van Luin, and looks immediately threatening. Looping chance just between the bowler and short midwicket, but neither commits and Sikander survives. Still Abid at the other end.

Bit of a sloppy start from the VCC seamers, offering too much width and Mason’s taking full advantage, cuts Klein for four twice in the fifth to move to 22 off just 15 balls.

Clark bowling full to Ahmed, angling the ball in to the right-hander. A couple of wides when he gets the line wrong. Potdar gets a couple of twos off Malik before surviving a confident appeal for leg-before. Steady start by ACC.

And they’re back at Craeyenhout, Mason and Pote for the hosts. Kingma takes the new ball and Mason flat-bats him for four through long off first ball, otherwise little of note. Nieuwoudt from the lother end looks like.

Ganesan goes to fifty driving Upadhyaya for a straight four, but Upadhyaya has his revenge in his next over, big swing across the line and a leading edge falls for long on. Naqash in.

Abid again, short and widish to Riaz who flashes at it, edged and Scully holds it at the second attempt. Sikander at four.

They’re back at ‘t Loopveld, Ahsan Malik bowling a maiden from the Uilenstede End to Rahil Ahmed, who’s opened with Shreyas Potdar. Will Clark bowls the second from the River Amstel End.

They’re back on at the Zomercomplex and Ashir Abid has the first wicket, swinging one in through the gate as Rehmat Zulfiqar drives, off stump gone. Riaz in.

Pote’s late flurry of wickets may have spiked VCC’s guns some, but the damage is largely done. Kingma and van Vliet scrabble hard to run the score up to 324 by the break despite neither finding the rope. Huge ask for an inexperienced HBS side.

They’re back on at Hazelaarweg meanwhile, and no sign of the apparent demons that beset VOC while they were batting. Niaz has the ball swining though, getting Piyaranga to cut a wide ball straight to point early, and now Khan playing across the line and a leading edge baloons up for mid on to comein and collect. Raxworthy in to join Ganesan

Klein likewise falls looking to force the pace, holing out off Pote soon after Musa, two balls later Nieuwoudt is caught at backward point and that’s a 4-fer for Pote. Complete’s the five-fer in his next as Shariz Ahmad holes out straight, he finishes with figures of 5-46.

Another couple of boundaries in the last over lifts Sparta to 222-8, Kroesen just sneaks in his half century, Ahmadi 2 short in the end. Their 9th wicket partnership .was worth 88, and has entirely changed the complection of the game.

Ingram decides to put the game out of its misery, falling over as he slog-sweeps Doram past square and then playing a much more composed stroke two balls later. A single to Van Troost off Floyd levels the scores, and then a wide to Ingram finishes it off. Kinda fitting, really. As Match of the Day that left a good deal to be desired. Ingram, though, with five for 11 and 15* is the undoubted Player of the Match. Excelsior win by 6 wickets.

Kroesen and Ahmadi have launched an impressive counter-attack at ‘t Loopveld meanwhile. Ahmadi, who’s somehow batting even further down the order today, has four sixes to his name already, smashing Zaidi over midwicket on consecutive balls in the 44th, then collecting two in two off Hobson over long off and extra. Kroesen gets in on the act in the penultimate over, taking Sparta past 200 launching Kumar for a straight six, then goes over midwicket for six more..

HBS are belatedly finding some wickets, but it’s doing little to slow the scoring. Engelbrecht’s come and gone for a brisk 32 off 19, but Musa Ahmad goes to fifty flicking Singh off his toes for four through backward square, then brings up the 300 next ball. Half ton and done for him as he too looksfor the ramp against Pote and can’t clear his own stumps. Ryan Klein and Karl Nieuwoudt now for VCC .

But HCC need six wickets, as Doram bowls Hart. It’s not quite over yet! Stan van Troost in to join Ingram.

Floyd on now from the Chalet End, so there’s left-arm spin from both ends. Floyd opens with a maiden; Ingram sweeps Doram for four, but then less convincingly gets a leading edge into the covers for a single. Excelsior need just 18 now..

Turmaine takes his side past 150 slog-sweeping Tariq over the square boundary, but four balls later tries to repeat the dose and a top edge is held at fine leg. Abid follows in the next, caught in the covers of Sikander Zulfiqar, and VRA are all out for 157 with eight balls unused. Tariq finishes pick of the bowlers with 3-34. Two apiece for Saqib and Hussain.

Last ball of the over again: Etman edges Doram to Staal at slip. Are Excelsior faltering here? Michael Hart in to join Ingram.

It might not (yet) be of miracle proportions, but Doram strikes, as Verhagen tries to loft his final delivery over long on and falls to a tumbling catch by Gorlee himself just inside the boundary. Ingram in at four.

Turmaine soldiering on with the tail at the Zomercomplex, he’s lost Dasgupta to Shafiq, Ashir Abid in with him now. Anything defensible looks a long way off and there’s just six overs left to get a score.

Sparta rapidly unravelling as Singh chips Reddy tamely to mid on, then Bashit is pinned LBW in Reddy’s next. Ahmadi joins Kroesen.

Verhagen clips Overdijk nicely off his toes in front of square, and although the bowlers, especially Daniel Crowley, are maintaining a steady line and length, Etman and Verhagen are gradually picking off the runs. Needing a miracle, Gorlee turns to Doram from the City End.

Oof, sorry, might have jinxed Croes slightly there. He’s gone across and ramped de Mey into his own stumps. .

Well it was a ton and done for Levitt as he cut Pote to backward third right after passing the landmark, but Croes is on course for a century of his own, into the 80s now, Musa Nadeem with him and VCC still looking set for a big score.

Meanwhile at ‘Loopveld a couple of quick wickets have put Sparta in trouble. Clark lofts Kumar to mid on to go for 32, and Ahsan Malik is caught behind off a bottom edge two balls later. Singh joins Kroesen.

That’s as far as they’ll get, Edwards last man out trying to flog Bartholomew over the off side, caught and gone for 75. Bartholomew ends with figures of 3-23, Naqash 3-24, real chance for Salland to get points on the board here..

VOC continue to collapse around Edwards, Upadhyaya nicking Naqash to slip before Hoseinbaks is run out smartly by a direct hit from Victor Lubbers. Max Hoornweg last man. Edwards on 73*.

They’re back out at Thurlede, Hidde Overdijk starting from the City End with a couple of wides. Then Tim Etman slashes him over cover for four. It looks as if Excelsior want to get this over quickly. So might HCC, for Heggelman clips the final ball of the over to Crowley in the covers, and departs without scoring. Roel Verhagen in at three, with Crowley to bowl from the Chalet End.

Levitt’s finally got a ton that counts, after a couple in pre-season he brings up his first competitive century in the Netherlands sweeping Barresi behind point for four. It’s come at better than a run a ball, he an Croes have put VCC well in charge here.

Again not sure about the shot selection with 18 overs to bat, Balbirnie gifts Saqib a second wicket, on one knee and looking to sweep up over backward square, finds the man. Turmaine in.

No, he won’t. Ingram’s first ball strikes Floyd’s pad, Ingram appeals, and umpire Van Liemt raises the Fatal Finger. Floyd looks thoughtfully at his bat, but that’s it. Nine wickets have fallen for eight runs in the space of 61 deliveries. Hard to believe, really.

Naqash strikes in consecutive overs, Seelaar pushing a simple retrun catch back to him in the 28th to fall for 26, then Jelte Schoonheim rushed by a bouncer in his next and bottom-edging into the stumps. Upadhyayay joins Edwards, who’s on 60*.

Scully gone playing the old “Voorburg drive” at Hussain, shoulders arms to a nip-backer and loses his off stump. Dasgupta joins Balbirnie with VRA in proper trouble.

And a third for Etman, as Joost Kooistra slices the left-armer to point, where Samir Butt takes his second catch. Next in the procession (I understand there’s another procession taking place somewhere today) is Daniel Crowley, who edges his first ball to Hart. Four for 11 for Etman. He may or may not get a chance to bowl a hat-trick ball.

Croes brings up the century partnership pushing Barresi out to long on, four balls later Levitt takes a knee and slog-sweeps over backward square for six. He’s into the 90s now, Croes in the 40s, getting rapidly out of hand for HBS.

Breaktrhough for ACC as Bukhari’s newfound patience runs out, looks to put Arya over the extra cover rope but is held in the deep. Clark in to join Ferguson, who has his fifty.

Seelaar languidly slaps Gansean over his head for six, then gets off strike for Edwards to go to fifty tipping to the on side. Been a crucial innings from him as the rest of the top order wilted.

After having done the hard work van Luin rather dives it away, a rank full toss from Saqib Zulfiqar and he can only club it to mid on. He goes for 38 as well, Scully in.

Charumbira, yet to get off the mark, chases a wideish delivery from Etman, and Van Troost has his third catch! The drama continues, and now it’s Clayton Floyd in to join Doram. Ingram, with three for 10 from five overs at this point, to coninue. And as I type this Doram doesn’t get to the pitch lunging forward, and the ball loops to Heggelman at shortish midwicket. Four for 10 for Ingram.

Another down at the Zomercomplex too as Hussain nips one back in through Rasool’s defences. He goes for 38, Balbirnie in.

Three for Ingram as the rout continues: Overdijk drives into the covers, where Samir Butt takes the catch. The tall figure of Daniel Doram appears to join Charumbira with HCC now in deep trouble.

Niaz goes, pushing at Ganesan away from the body and an inside edge trhough to the keeper. Seelaar to the middle.

This is turning into a full-on collapse now, as Alphonse makes to cut Ingram, the ball passes under his bat and into the stumps. Patient Charumbira in to join Hidde Overdijk with HCC in serious need of some reconstruction work.

Fifty for Levitt, standing tall to cut Singh through point for four. Kyle Klyne returns after drinks.

Fifty up for Sparta meanwhile, Ferguson pushing Hobson out through mid on for one. He’s on 30* now, Bukhair on 7*.

And another, as Trijzelaar edges Etman to Van Troost behind the stumps. That’s the cue for a drink at Thurlede.

De Kok with a rush of blood there, charges Barathi and swiping across the line, misses and clean bowled. Niaz joins Edwards, who’s on 28.

Lorenzo Ingram into the attack from the Chalet End, dealt with comfortably enough by Alphonse and Gorlee. But after an Etman maiden to Alphonse Ingram gets the first ball of his second through Gorlee, and the bails fly. Daniël Trijzelaar joins Alphonse in the absence of Vandiar.

Fifty up for VRA too now as Rasool and van Luin rebuild. Shafiiq replaces Mahmood.

First wicket for HBS, de Mey has Gigani caught midwicket miscuing a sweep. Croes joins Levitt, Manjinder Singh into the attack at the other end.

Niels Etman on from the City End, replacing Hart after another useful opening spell. And Gorlee gets a bonus as they take a quick single and the return eludes the keeper and goes for four overthrows. A rather messy Heggelman over advances the score by seven including a no ball and a wide; Alphonse now on 16, Gorlee on 15.

Barresi into the attack and Levitt takes a liking, lifts a full toss over mid on for four, the four balls later goes straight back over his head for six. Brings up the fifty sweeping the final ball for four more, tough start for the home skipper.

Edwards and de Kok rebuilding for VOC, they’ve added 31 for the fourth so far. Lubbers turns to spin, Elam Barathi into the attack..

Meanwhile at Craeyenhout Levitt and Gigani have been relatively untroubled, 34 without loss now VCC. De Mey replaces Kyle Klein.

Heggelman gets the breakthrough: Staal flicks rather casually at a delivery down the leg side, and Van Troost dives to his left again to hold a low catch. Staal doesn’t wait for the umpire’s decision, and goes for 11. Gorlee in at three.

Nidamanuru with a needless shot in the circumstances, looks to flick Tariq up off the toes over the backward square boundary, which isn’t exactly far away but it’s far enough. Caught on the rope and VRA three down. Van Luin joins Rasool.

Early wickets at ‘t Loopveld too, Reddy has Ali Raza caught at third. Tarr in at three but doesn’t last, falls over a fine yorker from Kumar and bowled. Bukhari joins Ferguson.

And another down. Berry for real this time, was in fact Jain driving to cover earlier, now Bartholomew has Berry caught in the deep looking to pull a shorter straight one over square leg. Tim de Kok joins Edwards in the middle with the hosts in a spot of bother.

taal hits the first boundary of the morning, driving Heggelman sweetly through the covers. Runs coming fairly freely, with Alphonse taking a three off Heggelman’s next and Staal clipping his next ball behind square for four. Hart’s much more parsimonious from the other end, and he rips through Alphonse with a delivery which swings late as it passes the bat; great take by Van Troost, diving to his left.That’s a very tidy maiden.

And VRA lose another, Smal drawn forward byMahmood and beaten on the outside edge, back quickly but not quick enough for square leg umpire it seems, Zulfiqar takes the bails and up does the finger. Nidamanuru in.

VOC massively regretting their decision to bat first now you’d say. Render Lubbers has the huge wicket of O’Dowd, nicking the fourth ball of the game to slip, then Bartholomew has Jain driving straight to Raxworthy at cover in the next. Jain and Edwards in for the hosts with work to do.

Early blow for the hosts as Tariq has improvised opener Aryan Dutt, deputising foir Vikram Singh today, caught at first slip in the first over. Smal joins Rasool.

Michael Hart to bowl the first over, from the City End to Ratha Alphonse, who opens with Tonny Staal. A wide, then a single to fine leg for Alphonse. Staal takes one to midwicket off the last. Tom Heggelman starts from the Chalet End.

And good to go at ‘Loopveld, Sparta win the toss and will bat in about 15 minutes’ time.

Gijs Kroesen is unavailable for Excelsior and is replaced by Roel Verhagen, although Stan van Troost will again take the gloves. For HCC, Patient Charumbira and Daniël Trijzelaar come in for Jan-Wieger Overdijk and, in the day’s big news so far, Jonathan Vandiar..

Voorburg win the toss at Craeyenhout and will bat first.

VOC win the toss at Hazelaarweg and will have a bat.

Hosts win the toss at Zomercomplex and put VRA in to bat.

Still a bit damp at ‘t Loopveld we hear, toss delayed for now.

Word from Thurlede is that Boris Gorlee has called correctly and elected to have a bat.