Topklasse Live | Round 6 | As it Happened

The pixies have prevailed over the gremlins, and I can tell you, not only that Kampong won by 82 runs, but that Josh Brown top-scored with 36*, Shashank Kumar took four for 35, and Alex Roy three for 13 from six overs.

A single to Ralph means they need eight off the last, bowled by Van Vliet. Five singles mean three off the last ball, with Olivier on strike. Conferences all round. Olivier turns him behind square, and they run two;Voorburg appeal for a run-out as Croes breaks the wicket, but it’s turned down. During the ensuing argy-bargy the Elenbaases try running a third, but the ball is dead and the match is tied!!! Olivier finishes with an unbeaten 74.

Klein is caught by Thakur at third man off Abhinay’s first ball and goes for 34. But two balls later Mason drives him through extra cover for four, and HBS win by 4 wickets. Del Bianco 61*.

Kothari goes, caught by Rippon at deep mid-off for 5. We have Elenbaases about, as the domino players say, as Ralph joins Olivier in the middle. Nine needed off seven balls.

But Singh bowls a couple of wides, eight come from the over, and HBS are on the brink of a very notable victory.

Six off Glover’s last, including a wide. 12 off two. Elenbaas on 67*. Islam to bowl out. Who’s going to bowl the last, if it’s needed?

Three singles off Abhinay, and Nidamanuru brings Singh back from the Sportlaan or Bosjes van Pex End with ten required.

Five singles off Islam, and Hermes need 18 off three.

The pressure tells: Hake bowls a head-high beamer at Klein, who fends it away for a single. That’s a no-ball, and Del Bianco picks up a single from the free hit. Only 13 needed now.

Seven off Islam’s over including a leg-bye, and Hermes are nearly over the line. Glover bowls the next, and a single to cover point for Braat gets Elenbaas back on strike. He, too, takes a single, looks for a second and has to dive back. Then Braat lofts him to long on, where Rippon makes no mistake. Sahil Kothari the new man.

Fifty for Del Bianco as Abhinay restricts them to half-a-dozen singles, then four come from Hake’s next. 33 required off eight.

34 required off six, and Hermes are going at a little above that rate as Jaynul Islam returns to try to break this crucial partnership.

Del Bianco and Klein picking off the runs, but they still need 42 with ten overs left. Nidamanuru’s used eight bowlers and only he has bowled out, so he has lots of options. Del Bianco’s on 47* at this point.

All over at the Hazelaarweg too, Musa picking up a third wicket as Rotterdam win by 122 runs.

It’s all over at De Dieput, and I think Kampong have won. But since we don’t have a credible scorecard, and the gremlins managed to lose vision of the final delivery, that’s based on facial expressions and body language. I cannot tell you how frustrating this has been. I’ll bring you up to speed when I can. Before Monday, hopefully . . .

A productive couple of overs for Hermes, Elenbaas reaching his half-century, and now they need 53 off eight.

Hoseinbaks caught behind off Musa for 18, and last man Durrani joins Schoonheim.

Ha! Goedeke drives a Shariz full toss to Smal in the covers and goes for 82. A twist in the tail, perhaps? Indeed, Navjit Singh top-edges the first of Shariz’s next to Smal, running across from extra cover, and VRA scent blood in the water. Kyle Klein joins Del Bianco.

Rippon finishes his stint, and now Hermes need 59 off the last ten, with Elenbaas on 38* and Braat on 16*. Aaditt Jain returns.

We’re into the endgame at the Hazelaarweg, where Musa has removed Malik and Saqib has collected two in an over, including Price for 15, and Schoonheim and Hoseinbaks are together. Another thumping victory for Rotterdam is in the offing.

A not-dissimilar situation at Craeyenhout, the difference being that HBS have wickets in hand and Goedeke is on 80*. Removing him is the top priority for VRA.

66 needed at Westvliet off 13 overs, with Elenbaas now on 35*. This one’s going down to the wire, one feels.

77* for Goedeke now, and the stand’s worth 89. Del Bianco on 31*, and VRA are beginning to be in desperate need of a breakthrough. 78 required off 19.

Musa on from the Airport End; Harhangi reverses to hit him for four behind squarfe, but then is well caught off a bottom edge by keeper Singh from the next delivery. Price still there, batting now with Ahsan Malik.

Dutt hits three fours, but when Rippon returns his off drive is a little uppish, and Levitt takes the catch at deepish mid-off. Looks like it’s down to Olivier Elenbaas and Braat to see this home for Hermes.

Another for Gondal as Fourie is stumped by Roushan Singh for 9, bringing Ethan Price in to join Harhangi.

Goedeke goes to 69* with a six off Nashier, and Lovepreet Padda now gets a first bowl in the Topklasse as Nidamanuru looks to break this crucial stand.

Floyd is caught by sub Sean Trouw off Jacod for 15, and Yash Pateljoins Worden. At least one more wicket as fallen as well, but the scorers are again in trouble at De Diepput, and we’ll have to wait for more accurate data.

The Topklasse’s most senior player falls to its newest, as Statham is caught at the wicket by Croes off debutant Tanveer Khawaja. The strangle is now seriously on, as Aryan Dutt joins Elenbaas.

Van der Meulen’s trapped in front by Gondal for 7, and Francois Fourie is in to join Harhangi. But VOC now need 201 from 23 overs, and the game is slipping away from them quite rapidly.

Leg-spinner Darsh Abhinay into the attack from the Scoreboard End, Goedeke moving on to 49*. But the scoreboard pressure is beginning to mount, and at the moment VRA probably have the upper hand, much as they would like to see the back of this pair.

Worden and Floyd are gradually digging HCC out of the hole they found themselves in: they’ve doubled the total, and they know that they only need another 142 with 30 overs left. Sensible batting should get them there.

Jaynul Islam returns to remove Rushmere, who cuts him hard to point where Ryan Klein flings himself to his right to take another stunning catch. We have seen some crackers today. He made 44, and is succeeded by Nick Statham.

The partnership’s broken on 97, Montague run out for 44. Butt has reached his half-century, but then he’s caught by Shafiq off Tariq for 51, and VOC’s problems are starting. Van der Meulen in to join Harhangi.

De Mey is trapped in front by Nidamanuru for 24, and Del Bianco joins Goedeke; this is probably the match-determining partnership, right here.

Kampong have seized their game by the scruff of the neck: Roy trifurcates Staal’s stumps with a very good full delivery, then has Gorlee caught behind first ball (although the batter seems unconvinced). Be that as it may, off the first ball after drinks Worden drives Gert Swanepoel back straight, the bowler gets a hand to the ball, and Teun Kloppenburg is run out backing up. Terrible way to go, and HCC are in very serious trouble indeed.

Voorburg have managed to defend low totals a couple of times already, and with Glover back from the Pavilion End and conceding just three, they will be looking to do so again here. But Rushmere’s on 31*, and they really need to pick him up soon to have any realistic chance.

Butt and Montague still there, on 43* and 38* now. They are certainly intent on making a game of it at least.

Revenge for Singh as Botha, having made a very rapid 40, tries to swing him into the middle of next week and holes out at cow. Goedeke in with De Mey now, as they take a drink.

Some hostile pace bowling from Alex Roy gets its reward, as Banerjee, who had been pretty quiet, plays across the line, and the top edge flies to Van der Harten at midwicket. Zac Worden in to join Staal.

Rippon on from the Paddock End, Croes knowing full well that the only way Voorburg can win this is by bowling Hermes out. But Rushmere slashes him down through the gully for four, and at 23* this is his best innings since his opening-day 169.

Sulaiman Tariq replaces Shafiq, Mumba continuing from the Airport End. But Butt and Montague continue to lay the foundations of a solid reply, Montague cutting Mumba off his eyebrows for four. He’s on 31* now, Butt on 29*.

The league’s leading wickettaker, Vikram Singh, on from the Scoreboard End, and Botha decides attack is the best option, smacking him for two fours and a six off his opening over. De Mey joins in the fun, hitting him for two more boundaries in his second.

The Lions are in the comfortable position of not having to do anything silly, and Staal and Banerjee are providing them with a solid start.

Aaditt Jain on for his first bowl for his new club, and in his second over Doyle is caught between attack and defence, spooning a catch to Levitt at cover. He goes for 36, Olivier Elenbaas the new man.

Butt‘s not afraid to hit Shafiq over the top, lfting him for four and then all the way for six, and at this very early stage VOC are up with the rate they need. Hard to see it lasting, though.

Walbrugh goes cheaply again, hitting Nidamanuru back low to his left and the bowler diving a long way to snaffle a very good return catch. Lehan Botha in at three.

Tonny Staal and Shirsak Banerjee start HCC’s chase at De Diepput, with Kumar and Roy sharing the new ball. This is probably the tightest of the four games.

Doyle’s raced to 29*, and Rushmere, seriously in need of a score, starts by hitting three boundaries, one off Van Vliet and two more off Islam. But he has a bit of luck when he mistimes a pull, and the top edge flies just over the head of Glover at mid-on.

De Mey lifts Nidamanuru back over his head for six, and then Walbrugh pulls Hake lustily for four. 262 is essentially gettable on this ground, provided HBS bat sensibly.

Samir Butt and Caleb Montague open for VOC, initially facing Ahmed Shafiq. Butt off the mark with a boundary, and that’s a promising start. Mumba to bowl the second.

Jamil’s caught by De Leede off Glover, and David Rushmere’s in to join Doyle.

At Craeyenhout Tayo Walbrugh slots back into his opening position, but it’s De Mey who faces Hake’s first delivery. He takes a single, then Hake bowls a wide, and Walbrugh plays out the rest of the over. Nidamanuru to bowl the second.

Undaunted by that wicket, though, Doyle takes two boundaries off Don Glover’s first and another off Islam’s second, and Hermes are up and running.

They’re back at Westvliet, and Jaynul Islam strikes immediately: Ash Ostling caught behind by Croes four balls into the innings. Mussayab Jamil in to join Daniel Doyle-Calle.

Edwards stayed to the end, finishing it with two sixes and ending on 89*. Josh Brown had three for 29 from his ten, and Kampong are going to have to bowl very well to defend that.

And indeed they do, despite Mumba being caught behind by Montague off Harhangi for 12. Sikander continues on his merry way, and before he’s caught behind in Van der Meulen’s final over he’s reached 126, made from 84 deliveries with nine fours and five sixes. Pretty stupendous, really. Roushan Singh is run out without scoring, and Ahmed Shafiq finishes with 17*.

The HBS fightback continues, with Nashier becoming Boddendijk’s fourth victim, Abhinay stumped off Van Oosterom, and Sharad Hake holing out to long off from Del Bianco. VRA may be fairly happy with 261, but you sense it could have been quite a few more.

Sikander brings up his century with a six off Malik; just 72 deliveries, and the difference between a moderate target and a very big one. At their current pace, they might just reach 300 yet again.

Van der Harten is run out pushing for a second, and Tushar Sharma joins Edwards in the middle.

A last-wicket partnership again lifts Voorburg out of trouble, at least to some degree: this time it’s Tanveer Khawaja and Jaynul Islam who do the necessary, adding 36 until Olivier Elenbaas bowls Islam for 19.

A flurry of wickets, too, at Craeyenhout: Cassidy caught by De Mey off Goedeke for 33, and Shariz and Viraj Thakur soon follow, dismissed by Boddendijk and Goedeke respectively. Udit Nashier and Darsh Abhinay together now.

Riaz gone for 63, caught by Van der Meulen off Ahsan Malik, and then Burhan Niaz is caught by Ayaaz Durrani off Price for 13. Sikander has gone on to 84*, batting now with Carl Mumba.

Jacod, meanwhile, has gone for 63, top-edging Brown to Staal at extra cover. Robert van der Harten joins Edwards, who proceeds to become the eighth demicenturion of the day. But Kampong are still a long way short of where they need to be, with only six overs left.

And suddenly it all falls apart for Voorburg: Jabarkhail (allegedly, but it may be Jamil) bowls Glover, and his next delivery has Aaditt Jain caught behind by Rishmere.Two balls later Mees van Vliet goes back in his crease and is trapped in front; three wickets in four balls for whoever it is, and Voorburg are down for the count.

Braat switches to the Paddock End, and promptly bowls Klein for 61. Big wicket for Hermes, as debutant Tanveer Khawaja joins Glover.

Smal smashes Del Bianco over long off to go to 86*, but two runs later he holes out to Goedeke off Boddendijk. Shariz Ahmad joins Cassidy.

Riaz the sixth batter to go past 50 today, and now Sikander becomes the seventh: these two have added 103 for the fifth wicket, a crucial partnership for their side. Riaz 55*, Sikander 51*,

Trijzelaar completes a very good shift, his ten overs going for just 30, but Jacod and Edwards are still there, on 62* and 35* respectively. Kampong will need to get past 200 at the very least, you’d think.

Klein joins today’s Half-Century Club, taking 16 off one Olivier Elenbaas over, and Voorburg, too, look set for a biggish total.

VRA first to 200 (well, it is Craeyenhout, after all), and Smal on a run-a-ball 73*. HBS also in serious need of a wicket.

15 overs left, and with Riaz on 46* and Sikander on 38*, Rotterdam have the basis for a challenging total. VOC really need to break this partnership, and soon,

Fifty for Jacod as well, and now Edwards lifts Floyd over long on for six. Taking a leaf out of Edwards’ book, Jacod sweeps him hard for four; Kampong need to go through the gears here, and there are signs they are ready to do so. Jacod now on 56*, Edwards 25*.

Fifty for Smal, but then Nidamanuru cuts Goedeke into the hands of Reece Mason at point and departs for 23. Sam Cassidy in at five.

Braat back from the Pavilion End, Dutt returning from the other. Rippon pulls Braat to the midwicket boundary, but Dutt ties Klein down, and when they try a risky single Rippon is beaten by a sharp throw from cover and departs for 17. Don Glover joins Klein, who’s on 25*.

Jelte Schoonheim into the attack: VOC have done a great job so far of slowing down the Rotterdam juggernaut. But Riaz is looking menacing on 35*, Sikander still with him at the other end.

150 up at Craeyenhout, as VRA’s senior pros take control against De Mey and Goedeke. Smal now on 44*, Nidamanuru on 18*.

And indeed, Bangs is bowled by Clayton Floyd for 12, and Edwards makes a belated extrance at six. Jacod on 38* now, Edwards 10*.

Every time you look away at the moment a wicket seems to fall: De Leede goes back to Kothari, who’s switched to the Pavilion End, and is bowled for 22. Michael Rippon batting now with Klein.

VOC’s spinners getting the job done at the Hazelaarweg: first Asief Hoseinbaks, on from the Airport End, traps Musa in front for 29 as he makes to sweep, then Van Wingerden has Saqib Zulfiqar caught low at midwicket by Van der Meulen for 15. Riaz still there, on 12*, batting with Sikander Zulfiqar.

Smal celebrates his return to the side by coming down the wicket to De Mey and thumping him over long off for six. Good comeback by the left-armer, though, as he confines the scoring to a couple of singles from the rest of the over.

Reward for Trijzelaar, Vieler caught by Gorlee for a patient 23. Lachlan Bangs in with Jacod now, with Scott Edwards down the order today.

On 59, Croes falls to an absolutely stunning catch by Braat at midwicket: Croes pulls Hikmatullah Jabarkhail hard, and Braat flings himself to his right, grabbing the ball centimetres from the turf. Catch of the season, IMHO. Ryan Klein in at five.

Gondal goes: on 28, he sweeps Siebe van Wingerden fine, chased by Francois Fourie almost to the boundary, he pings a quick return in and Caleb Montague gathers and breaks the stumps in one movement as they come back for the second. The umpire’s finger goes up. Mohsin Riaz in to join Musa, who’s on 25*.

Singh goes to fifty, but soon after holes out to Goedeke at long off off Benno Boddendijk and departs for 52. Nidamanuru in to join Smal.

Fifty for Croes, reverse sweeping Kothari to the third man boundary. It’s come at a run a ball, with seven boundaries. De Leede on 17* at the other end. Ralph Elenbaas enters the attack.

Not a huge amount to report from De Diepput: Vrolijk and Trijzelaar are keeping it tight, and Vieler and Jacod are content to pick up singles as they can. Not exactly stalemate, but very slow progress.

They’ve taken early drinks everywhere because of the weather (I know, it’s not that hot yet), and immediately after the break Julien de Mey is on. He concedes five wides, but then takes the edge of Padda’s bat and Klein does the rest at slip. He goes for 26. Johan Smal in to join Singh, who’s on 36*.

Ethan Price into the attack from the Pavilion End, but Gondal sweeps him hard for four, then belts him over long for six. The Rotterdam pair are gradually taking back the initiative.

Only at Craeyenhout are the batters in control, Singh now on 35*, Padda 26*.

Croes goes onto the attack, driving Dutt through extra for four, then pulling him wide of mid-on for another. That forces Braat to bring Sahil Kothari on from the Paddock End, with Croes now on 35*.

Van der Meulen on from the Airport End, as Musa and Gondal also find runs hard to come by after the early loss of Minhas.

Double bowling change for HCC as well, Thijs Vrolijk and Justin Trijzelaar into the attack. Trijzelaar starts with a couple of wides, but thereafter he’s on the money, forcing Vieler to dig out a yorker and getting him flashing at a shorter delivery. Slow going for Kampong.

Joris van Oosterom and Lucas del Bianco replace the new-ball bowlers, and Padda promptly gets off the mark, lashing a wide delivery from the former though point for four, then pulling him hard to the square leg boundary. He adds two more in Van Oosterom’s next, and VRA are away to a very promising start.

Aryan Dutt on from the Paddock End, and he immediately removes De Lange, playing perhaps for spin that wasn’t there and bowled for 12. Bas de Leede the new man.

On what you’d think would be a beautiful morning for batting, a wicket at the Hazelaarweg: Minhas caught by Jason van der Meulen off Harhangi for 5. Muhammad Gondal in to join Musa.

Another for Brown, and another soft dismissal for O’Dowd, who drives on the up and is easily caught in the covers by Boris Gorlee. Pierre Jacod in at four.

Vikram Singhing away at Craeyenhout, carving Goedeke square for another boundary. He’s on 17* already; Lovepreet Padda yet to get off the mark.

But Braat secures a vital breakthrough at Westvliet, as Levitt plays down the wrong line and the ball slatters into his stumps. Noah Croes comes to the crease, joining De Lange, who guides Elenbaas to the point boundary to get off the mark.

Roman Harhangi and Ahsan Malik take the new ball for VOC, bowling to Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas. A quiet start, just a boundary for Minhas the only excitement so far.

Josh Brown strikes with the first ball of the second over, Daniel van den Berg caught by Teun Kloppenburg for 1. Karel Vieler in early to join Max O’Dowd.

A couple off Kent Goedeke’s opening over at Craeyenhout, then Vikram Singh clips Kyle Klein’s first delivery sweetly off his toes for the first boundary of the morning.

At Westvliet Olivier Elenbaas starts from the Pavilion End, and Michael Levitt turns his third ball square to get off the mark. Cedric de Lange plays out the rest of the over. Sebastiaan Braat from the Paddock End to bowl the second.

Teja Nidamanuru the only visiting captain to win the toss, and he elects to have a bat

At the Hazelaarweg VOC have won the toss and, slightly surprisingly I think, asked Rotterdam to have a bat. A lot of incorrect calling going on today!

Voorburg, on the other hand, have chosen to bat after winning the toss. Two more players turning out for Voorburg today: Tanveer Khawaja makes his Topklasse debut, and Aaditt Jain plays for his new club for the first time. Hermes unchanged from last week.

At De Diepput, HCC have won the toss and elected to field.