Topklasse Live | Round 5 | As it Happened

And next over it’s done. Edward tries to flat-bat Minhas over long on but can’t clear Riaz. Catch held. Game over as Punjab win by 32 runs.

Van Tonder can’t seem to get on strike, there’s not been a boundary since the 35th, hope fading, frustration building, and the pressure tells. Looks to paddle-reverse Ahmad and it winds up in the gloves. Finger goes up, Punjab rejoicing, he goes for 72 off 91. Blankenstijn last man.

Van Tonder carves Ahmad out wide of long off and they push a right two, great throw from Minhas in the deep, Ahmad takes the ball and the bails, Etman has to go. Van Tonder looks baffled, Etman can’t quite believe it either, but Punjab are celebrating. Van Tonder takes a single on the next and immediately regrets is as Ralston goes first ball, big flash and the edge is juggled and taken at slip. Edward in.

All on van Tonder now in the day’s last going concern. Stan van Troost has holed out to long on off Minhas. Fifty to get in the last eight. Niels Etman in with van Tonder now. Musa Ahmad bowling in tandem with Minhas but everyone’s got overs left.

And somehow it’s all over at Craeyenhout too, quite an incredible collapse as Barresi has Charumbira cuaght and bowled, Tom de Leede holds out another four balls before being bowled by Rossouw. Voorburg lose their last six wickets for just ten runs as HBS win by 87 runs

The tail resists manfully for a while, but the result was never in doubt. Turmaine’s fine day continues as he holds a high catch off Ashir abid to do for Leijer, before Ahmad wraps things up, Venter smartly stumped by Cassidy as VRA win by 68 runs

Kyle Klein back, and as is his wont has an immediate impact. Gets Croes caught and bowled, the Boissevain two balls later. And a double strike from Rossouw in the next does for Melville and Nashier in succession, Voorburg’s chase has just imploded out of nowhere. Charumbira and Tom de Leede with an improbable rescue job on their hands.

Van Tonder loses another partner, but only has himself to blame really. Pushes Minhas out to cover and absolutely barbeques Luuk Kroesen calling through for an impossible single. Stan van Troost in, 200 up for Excelsior, van Tonder on 49* and a lot on this pair.

Asking rate tells here as Brown swivel-pulls Ruffel for six but then holes out next ball, he goes for 35, and with him HCC’s hopes you’d say. Teun Leijer in.

Big wicket at Craeyenhout as Kaplan is caught off Boddendijk for 62, Melville joins Croes

Van Tonder loses another partenr as Niaz skids one through Joost Kroesen’s defences into the stumps, Luuk Kroesen replaces him, Stan van Troost still waiting in the hutch, oddly.

Brown trying to muster some resistance with the tail here, he’s on 18 off 42 now with Wolfe in defensive mode at the other end. Turmaine finishes with game-changing figures of 4-25 in 10.

Not so at Thurlede, where Naqvi bafflingly drives Mahmood up and into the hands of Riaz at long off for a three ball duck. Joost Kroesen in. Consolidation required for the hosts now as Punjab surely sense an opening…

Fifty for Kamplan punching Barresi into the on side for a single, Croes sweeps the next ball hard and square for four. Ship looking steady enough for now.

Shahzad gets the second wicket holding a return catch off Verhagen’s leading edge to send the home skipper back for a run-a-ball 65. Naqvi joins van Tonder, whose constructed a cautious 7* off 25. Excelsior on top but still only half way there, key partnership this you’d think.

Heading for an early finish here too as Nidamanuru turns one through the gate to get rid of Overdijk, then Turmaine bags his fourth as Crowley is caught by Singh at slip. Wolfe in with Brown now.

There will be no rebuilding at Hazelaarweg though, Jabakhail gets de Kok and the tail soon wilts. Kothari gets the tounger Jain to finish with figures of 6-23 in 7, Jabakhail has Schoonheim LBW to finish things off as Hermes win by 49 runs.

Rebuilding the order of the day at Craeyenhout too, hundred up for VCC now, still Kaplan and Croes, the former into the forties. Rossouw back.

Overdijk and Brown trying to stop the rot here at the Bos, Shariz Ahmad’s spell has produced a series of appeals but no further breakthrough, Nidamanuru taking over from him now. Turmaine still at the other end.

Wobbles turn into a full-on face-plant for VOC again. It’s Dutt and especially Kothari that have tripped them here, the former getting Arnav Jain stumped pushing too far forward down the wrong line, the latter `removing Oberholzer, Harhangi and de Widt. De Kok’s still there in the 20s but VOC are barely half-way to the total and he’s only the tail for company now. Van Wingerden with him, Schoonheim and Jain the younger to come

Well it’s been a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it chase at Kampong today, Sparta do claim another consolation wicket on the way as Berry holes out to deep point off Singh for an 18-ball 33, but the result was never in doubt. Ingram joins Bangs and the latter gfinishes the game off with a slog-swept four off Singh to go to fifty, then putting a rank full toss for a walk-off six over midwicket as Kampong win by 7 wickets. That was not close.

Rahaley and Verhagen warming to their work now, hundred parnership up, fifty for Rahaley who celebrates by slog-sweeping Kamal high and away and out of the park over square. The extended ball-hunt seems to break Rahaley’s concentration however, and next ball he fends at a shorter one and edges behind for 60. Van Tonder in to join Verhagen, who’s on 48*.

Voorburg in trouble too of a sudden, as de Mey runs out the in-form de Lange for 15, then Del Bianco and Botha combine to see the back of the even more in-form Bas de Leede in the same manner. Croes in to join Kaplan.

Leon Turmaine into the attack, with dramatic effect. Gets Gorlee miscuing a simple catch to Nidamanuru at mid on, the Gorlee in his next over lofting a far tougher chance long and straight out to Fletcher, five balls later and he cleans up Patel. HCC in a state right here.

Van den Berg’s been living dangerously it must be said, and his luck runs out soon after going to fifty, a top edge on a heave finally going to hand, Scheepers the bowler, second catch for Baker, Bangs the new man in the middle.

Wobbles for VOC now, Dutt has Recordon pinned LBW on the back foot, then Kothari produces a double-wicket maiden at the other end, Jannet bowled and then vd Meulen miscuing to mid on. De Kok joins Oberholzer.

Kaplan and de Lange resume the relentlessly productive partnership that’s been a reliable font of runs for VCC all season. Botha into the attack first change and made to regret it as he’s slapped for 16 off his first over. De Mey takes over at the other end.

Excelsior’s strong start to the chase continues, as Rehaley gets one in the slot from Shahzad and duly despatches it over midwicket for six. Tariq still from the other end.

A destructive if far-from-chanceless partnership comes to an end at Kampong as O’Dowd, having deposited Snoep over midwicket for four the previous ball, gets a big top edge on the slog sweep and goes for 38. Berry joins van den Berg, who’s one hit away from a half century.

And another! Ruffell disarranges Staal’s woodwork to bring Ollie White to te crease. Early wickets they wanted, and early wickets they’ve got.

Steady start for VOC meanwhile, Jannett setting the pace at the minute, Dutt into the attack early.

First down here at the Bos. Floyd has played a dangerous hand, a few uppercuts and edges flying away behind, but Fletcher now squares him up and pins him in front.Gorlee joins Staal, Ruffel sharing the new ball.

Excelsior set off on the tallest chase of the day, Rahaley and Verhagen opening. Tariq shares the new ball with Musa Ahmad, and a brisk start for the hosts.

Back on at Craeyenhout, Levitt opens the innings with a four and a six off Rossouw, but Kyle Klein cleans him up first ball of the second. Kaplan joins de Lange.

Ahmadi opens with a maiden on O’Dowd to clam things down a bit, but van den Berg is in an adventurous mood again, Scheepers into the attack and is hooked for a one-bouncer over fine leg, vd Berg into the thirties already.

Clayton Floyd opening the batting against his old club here at the Bos, with Tonny Staal for company. Ben Fletcher to open the bowling for the hosts.

They’re done lunching at Hazelaarweg too, Jannett and Recordon opening for the hosts, Numair starts with a maiden on the former. Ralph Elenbaas from the other end, Recordon starts the scoring with a fine leg glance for one, cuts the final ball of the over square for four.

They’re back out at Kampong, van den Burg and O’Dowd opening for the hosts, Malik with the first over. Van den Burg’s making use of the fielding restrictions with a series of lofted shots in the V yielding a smattering of twos and a first boundary. 12 off it, Ahmadi shares the new ball.

The umpires decide to change the ball after one delivery of the 49th, and once that’s done Shinwari clobbers the new one down the throat of Blankestijn on the midwicket boundary. Shahzad the first ball of Ralston’s last over cow for six. Four off the final ball, and Excelsior have a chase on their hands.

Van Vliet has Klein, caught by Kaplan for 53, and in the final over Reece Mason’s caught by Cedric de Lange off Charumbira. Navjit ends on 34* from 29 deliveries, and HBS have given their attack something to bowl at.

Crowley gets the last, Ruffell caught by Boris Gorlee for 19. But he and Abid added 19 for the last wicket, which could prove very valuable indeed. Overdijk finishes with foru for 44, Brown with three for 33.

Arnav Jain gets the last, Elenbaas bowled not playing a shot. Jain finishes with four for 22.

Ralston back from the City End to remove Mohsin Riaz, who cuts him waist-high to Stan van Troost at point. Khurram Shahzad in to join Fawad Shinwari.

Ferguson and Snoep see it through to the end, and Sparta finish with a much better total than seemed likely at 27 for four. Jacod the pick of the bowlers with three for 35. Sparta will have to bowl extremely well, though, to contain Kampong’s batting.

Half-century for Klein, and with four overs left HBS have the basis for a challenging total, even against Voorburg at Craeyenhout.

Endgame in the Bos as well, with last pair Ruffell and Ashir Abid together now. Overdijk has Scully caught by Yash Patel at deep squarfe leg for 14, and Ben Fletcher, having lashed Brown wide of mid-on for four, hits across the line and skies the ball out on the off side, where Staal wins the race to take the catch.

180 looks a long way off now, though: Arnav Jain returns to catch a sharp low catch off his own bowling to remove Olivier Elenbaas for 34, and in his next over bowls Sahil Kothari for 26. And as I’m writing this, Christiaan Oberholzer takes another return catch, Roy Numair going for 1. The End is Nigh for Hermes, as Hikmatullah Jabarkhail joins Ralph Elenbaas.

And as if to underline the point, Kroesen gets another, providing his captain with another keeper’s catch to remove Niaz for 10. Sikander Zulfiqar in at six, but now he’s played on to Rahaley and Excelsior are battling their way back into the game.

Ingram, bowling round the wicket, gets one past Klesse, who departs for a patient 74. He’s given Sparta just the faintest whiff of a defendable total, but they’d like a few more as Snoep joins Ferguson.

Boissevain bowls Barresi for 71, and Navjit Singh joins Klein, who has now moved on to a very valuable 38*.

HCC really putting in the squeeze now: Overdijk returns to remove Nidamanuru for 33, caught by Staal at midwicket, and then have Leon Turmaine caught at slip, also by Staal, two balls later. Peter Ruffell joins Scully, with VRA well short of where they would want to be.

Elenbaas and Kothari are largely content to knock it about for singles at the moment, and De Kok brings Harhangi back from the Airport End. He immediately has Kothari playing and missing, and you have to think that 180 would take some getting against the Hermes attack on this.

Another for Kroesen two balls later: Musa caught behind by Verhagen for 12. Riaz and Burhan Niaz together now, with Excelsior again fighting back thanks to their underbowled leg-spinner.

Alex Roy returns to remove Malik, who gets a lifting delivery and can only spear it to Nana at second slip, who dives to his right to take a great catch. Klesse now on 56*, Tim Ferguson in at ten.

Barresi moves to 62*, with Klein on 17*. They’ve added 42 for the fifth wicket so far, but Walbrugh will be hoping they’re able to bat for another ten overs or so.

White adds the scalp of Shariz, caught behind by Mark Wolfe for 5. Luke Scully in to join Nidamanuru, who’s now on 28* and crucial to VRA’s hopes of setting a competitive total.

Another for Van der Meulen, bowling Braat for a duck. Sahil Kothari in to join Elenbaas.

Minhas powering towards a century now, hitting Karson Edward for four and then a six over midwicket, before adding another boundary in the youngster’s next over. He’s on 93*, Musa content to enjoy the show from the other end. But no century today, as Joost Kroesen returns, Minhas lashes his first ball towards long on, and Sam Rahaley runs a long way to his right to take the catch. Mohsin Riaz in at four.

Fifty for Klesse, with Malik still keeping him company. Akhil Gopinath and Lachlan Bangs operating now for Kampong.

Botha‘s gone, caught by Kaplan off Nashier for 29. Barresi now in 41*, batting with Kyle Klein, and a lot depends on him now. How many do HBS need against Voorburg’s batting line-up?

Gouge was one of VRA’s heroes last week, but today he falls to Oliver White for 6, making to cut and bottom-edging the ball into his stumps. Shariz Ahmad in to join Nidamanuru.

Jason van der Meulen replaces Harhangi, and Statham succumbs to the pull-itis epidemic, finding Oberholzer at deep square leg and departing for 26. Sebastiaan Braat in to join Elenbaas.

Minhas, too, has gone to a half-century, and with Musa settling at the other end, Punjab have the basis for a big total. It looks as if Excelsior are really going to need their top order to fire today.

Jacod grabs a third, bowling Ahmadi for 7. Ahsan Malik the new man, but Sparta need the tail to help Klesse dig them out of trouble. He’s on 43* now.

Botha isn’t inclined to hang around, smacking a six and a couple of fours to move quickly onto 25*. Barresi’s on 26*, with Udit Nashier and Gavin Kaplan now into the attack.

Another for Brown, as Singh is also drawn into a pull, gets under it, and is caught by Clayton Floyd for 39. That brings Patrick Gouge in to join Nidamanuru, with the innings nicely in the balance.

Recovering from a poor start is comparatively unfamiliar territory for Hermes, but they’re fortunate to have the league’s most experienced batter in Nick Statham, and he and Elenbaas have weathered the storm so far. Harhangi’s bowled a fine spell from the Airport End, and he’s a bit unlucky when an inside edge from Statham just misses the off peg and De Kok’s desperate glove, racing all the way to the boundary.

Vandiar goes past fifty, pulling Naqvi meatily wide of mid-on. But when he’s on 58 he’s yorked by Ralston, and Excelsior have their breakthrough. Musa Ahmad in to join Minhas, who’s on 48*.

Klesse and Singh facing an all-spin attack now, with Lorenzo Ingram on from the University End to pair with Jacod. And Jacod has another: Singh edges low to slip, where Alex Roy takes a fine diving catch. Klesse on 23*, joined by Khalid Ahmadi.

Boissevain claims the priceless wicket of Walbrugh, caught by Melville for 36. Lehan Botha in to join Barresi.

Brown gets a much-needed breakthrough, as Smal swings him down to fine leg and finds Leijer. Teja Nidamanuru joins Singh, who’s now on 37*.

It’s a battle for survival at the Hazelaarweg at the moment, with Statham and Elenbaas working hard to rebuild the Hermes innings against Harhangi and Siebe van Wingerden. That win last week seems to have transformed VOC.

Both openers approaching half-centuries now, Vandiar on 46* and Minhas on 45*. Joost Kroesen on from the Chalet End, but so far he hasn’t managed to produce the magic which earned him a hat-trick against Voorburg last week.

Pierre Jacod into the attack, and he gets the big wicket of Scheepers, a full delivery getting through the defence and clipping the leg stump. Manminder Singh in to join Klesse, who again looks to be Sparta’s best hope of setting a decent total.

Del Bianco goes, caught by Henry Melville off Charumbira for a patient 14. That brings Barresi in to join Walbrugh, which is again likely to be a crucial partnership for HBS. .

Steady progress by Singh, now on 31*, and Smal, with Josh Brown and Teun Leijer into the attack.

Another one down at the Hazelaarweg, where Dutt lasts just four balls before he drives at Aaditt Jain, bat well away from his body, and is caught by Arnav in the gully. But Ostling’s still there, on 23* not out . . . or was, until Roman Harhangi pinned him in front. Olivier Elenbaas the new man, joining Nick Statham.

A very solid opening for Punjab, Vandiar moving to 35*, with five fours and a six already, Minhas comparatively quiet at the other end with 19*. Antum Naqvi on from the City End, but Excelsior are again struggling to find a breakthrough.

Del Bianco and Walbrugh set about rebuilding after that early wicket, and Patrick Charumbira replaces Tom de Leede from the Scoreboard End. And on from the Sportlaan End comes Philippe Boissevain, who’s making his first appearance of the season today.

Sparta in all sorts at Maarschalkerweerd. Ferguson and Boorer get the total to 27, but then the latter gets a nasty lifting delivery from Nana and is caught head-high by keeper Van den Berg. Then Shashank Kumar joins the party: first he traps Ferguson in front for 20, and then bowls Umar Baker. Juandre Scheepers joins Kyle Klesse, with a big rebuilding job to do.

No such problems in the Bos, where Singh and Jack Cassidy are prospering against Crowley and Overdijk. It’s sedate enough for the first half-dozen overs, but then Singh lofts Crowley effortlessly over square leg for six. But as I write this Cassidy goes, edging Overdijk low to Tonny Staal at first slip and departing for 16. Johan Staal the new man.

VOC picking up where they left off against Punjab last week: first, Arnav Jain has Doyle smartly caught behind by Tim de Kok, and then Asad Zulfiqar plays down the wrong line to Aaditt, and hears his off stump knocked back. Hermes in early trouble, as Aryan Dutt joins Ostling.

Vandiar and Shoaib Minhas open for Punjab, initially facing Jason Ralston and Jens Blankestijn. The latter bowls just one over, however, before giving way to Niels Etman. Steady start for Punjab.

Another returnee’s innings doesn’t last long: Tobias Visée opens for HBS, put in to bat by Noah Croes, but after slashing Tom de Leede over point in a characteristic start, he lofts Mees van Vliet to deep extra cover, where Bas de Leede takes the catch. Tayo Walbrugh joins Lucas del Bianco in the middle.

Shaquille Martina back in the Sparta side, but his stay at the crease is brief as Kertan Nana gets one to cut back off a very green pitch and hits the top of middle and off. Lukas Boorer joins Sam Ferguson.

Hermes join the win-the-toss and bat brigade at the Hazelaarweg, Arnav Jain bowling the opening over to Ash Ostling who gets a couple. Little brother Aaditt from the other end, to Daniel Doyle-Calle.

VRA have won the toss and are batting in the Amsterdamse Bos. For HCC, Clayton Floyd plays for the first time this season, with opener Victor Wiesmeier missing out. Daniel Crowley starts from Mulder’s End, bowling to Vikram Singh, who turns the final delivery off his hip to get the scoreboard moving. Teun Leijer from the City End.

At Thurlede, Sikander Zulfiqar has won the toss and elected to bat. Still no Saqib Zulfiqar for Punjab, but they make three other changes: Jonathan Vandiar, Sajjad Kamal and Khurran Shahzad all return, Samir Butt, Mohammad Gondal and Mubashar Hussain making way.