Topklasse Live | Round 6 | As it Happened

And there it is. With no break in the weather in sight and the cut-off looming, the two captains finally shake hands. Match Abandoned.

Still no word of the inevitable abandonment at Berweg. Guess everyone’s really enjoying the coffee and card games.

They’ve not given up at Bermweg yet. Still more than and hour and a half till the cut-off, and they’ve had the toss, but really doesn’t look like there’s much cause for hope at this point.

No signs of activity at Bermweg. Hosing down.

Curtains at the Bos too, it seems. Match Abandoned.

Still coming down steadily in Schiedam, and after lunch say they’ve seen enough. Match Abandoned

Not so at Westvliet, where they’ve bowed to the inevitable. Match Abandoned.

Early lunch taken at Bermweg too, incautious optimism prevailing there it seems.

The radar currently has the rain passing away from about 16:00, first in Schiedam and then further east and north. That might just leave time for a 20-over game, allowing for the time needed to get the ground into a playable condition. We shall see.

Talk turn to an early lunch here at Harga, nobody prepared to call it off yet it seems.

A single Spartan, who I take to be Joost-Martijn Snoep, cuts a lonely figure as he sweeps the standing water off the covers at Bermweg. Hope springs eternal indeed.

Still raining at the Amsterdamse Bos.

Still raining at Bermweg.

Still raining at Harga.

Still raining at Westvliet.

De Diepput always a strong contender for the first towel-in-throwing, and so it proves. Match Abandoned.

The heavy favourite from the start, rain is looking firmly in control of the day’s contest now. Some gutsy resistance at the top of the country from VRA and HBS, but that pair both back in the pavilion now too…

This pair look intent on making hay while the rain looms, Ashir Abid get a rough welcome into the attack. First two balls back of a length and dispatched through square leg for four and three by Del Bianco, Walbrugh follows suit three balls later. Ruffel gets one more ball, left alone outside off by Del Bianco, before the rain arrives. His figures 1-16 in 3.1, Del Bianco on 22*, Walbrugh on 13*. And on come the covers.

They’re still going at the Bos though, spot of controversy too as VRA are convinced they have Del Bianco run out chancing a single bunting Fletcher to Ibad Zaidi at short midwicket, tight, dive, direct hit with one to aim at and did the bat bounce? In the air as the bails fly off but tough one to call and he survives. Tad too full from Fletcher in the next and he’s clipped square off the toes by Del Bianco for four through the leg side. Fletcher looks unimpressed with the efforts of his fielders. Ruffel still at the other end, first ball driven straightish by Walbrugh, mid off’s across to it but misfields, and a hard run three. Ashir Abid takes over from Fletcher.

Raining at de Diepput too, we’re told. Mood is cautiously pessimistic.

Covers on and raining steadily here at Harga, deeply disappointing state of affairs for a much-anticipated Schiedam Derby. No official selection news given lack of a toss, but Brett Hampton is here…

Believe it or not, we have live action! VRA have won the toss in the Bos, and asked HBS to bat. And an eventful start it is: Lucas del Bianco takes a couple off Fletcher’s first over, and then Tobias Visée drives Peter Ruffell’s second delivery to the point boundary. He tries somewhat awkwardly to defend the next, gets an inside edge, and Jack Cassidy does the rest. Tayo Walbrugh early to the crease again.

Hope reigns (sp.?) at the Bermweg, it seems, where Tim de Kok has called correctly and invited Sparta to have a bat. When that might be, though, remains moot.

The real match of the day here, we fear.