Topklasse Live | Round 8 | As it Happened

And Floris de Lange finishes it off for Voorburg, Scheepers caught for 84 and, after some spirited resistance from the brothers Hoornweg, bowling Max of that ilk. Voorburg win by 27 runs.

Ingram and Kroesen finish it off at Thurlede, ending on 38* and 15* respectively as Excelsior win by five wickets.

All over at Craeyenhout: bang-bang from Klein, Elenbaas holing out to Venter at long on and then newcomer Peck going next ball. HBS win by 106 runs.

A late strike by Eales, Van Troost edges him to Prince behind the stumps and departs for 31. Joost Kroesen in to join Ingram, who’s on 33*.

Another one goes, as Baker is rather surprisingly given run out off a return from Floris de Lange – to the naked eye it looked as if he was well home. But to be fair, long off isn’t the best place to judge that from. Anyway, he’s gone, and Max Hoornweg is in.

Another one down at Craeyenhout: Woermeijer bowled by Botha. Some spirited resistance from Ekrami, but now he’s gone as well, pulling Venter down the throat of Boddendijk at backward square. HBS look like keeping pace with Punjab at the top of the table.

Just 27 required now from nine overs, with Eales and Singh back into the attack. Ingram on 31* (from 93 deliveries), Van Troost on 26* from 44.

Only three in hand now, Snoep bowled by Kaplan, who now has four for 36 to go with his century. Scheepers on 59*, but he’ll have to marshal the tail carefully to get Sparta anywhere close.

No century for Musa today, as Harhangi cramps him up a little and he edges through to Fourie. He has to go for 96, bringing Saqib Zulfiqar to the crease. Aaditt Jain returns, Vandiar despatches him through midwicket, and Punjab-Ghausia win by eight wickets.

Braat has gone, bowled by De Villiers, and now it’s Elenbaas and Woermeijer who are battling to keep Hermes’ hopes alive. But it would take a massive reversal from here.

Scheepers goes to fifty, and as long as he’s there Sparta aren’t entirely out of the hunt. They need 86 off the last 14 overs, but they’re well off the pace at the moment and they only have four wickets in hand.

Into the final powerplay with Punjab needing 11 to win and Musa requiring six for his hundred. Schierhout to continue.

Van Troost and Ingram working hard against VRA’s spin attack, happy to defend much of the time. They only need 49 now, with 15 overs to get them, and they seem intent on not doing anything silly.

It’s all over at De Diepput: McInerney chips in with the wicket of Kothari, and then Crowley uproots Reddy’s off stump, finishing with three for 25. Three for 24 for Wiggins, and HCC win by 147 runs.

Punjab are still cruising towards a win, with Musa now on 87* and Vandiar, quietly supporting him, on 11*. De Kok turns to Schierhout with just 26 needed.

Botha gets one to lift sharply outside off, Klijnhans can’t keep it down, and De Villiers is under it at deep point. Ralph Elenbaas in to join Braat.

Wolfe has played a fighting knock for ACC, but when he’s on 22 he drives uppishly at Crowley and Vrolijk takes the catch. ACC again on the brink as Arya joins Kothari.

A wicket for Cedric de Lange, as Fraser skies him into the off side and Croes makes a lot of ground to snaffle the catch. Martijn Snoep joins Scheepers, who’s on 44*, with 100 still needed.

It’s a moment of carelessness which ends the stand at Thurlede, Mitchell coming for a tight single and run out by a direct hit from Smal. And then Shariz has Niels Etman leg-before, and VRA are back in the game. Stan van Troost in to join Ingram.

Wiggins ends the partnership, taking a brilliant return catch, low to his right, to remove Sayed. An absolutely top piece of work that!

A breakthrough at last, Arnav Jain responsible as Minhas chips him high to McKenzie at mid-off and departs for 89. Relief for VOC is only partial, however, because Musa’s on 62* and is joined now by the substantial figure of Jonathan Vandiar.

All of a sudden, Hermes are in trouble. Doyle, on 65, slices Venter to Klein at backward point, and then Klein uproots Dutt’s middle stump before he has scored, following it up in his next over by trapping Ostling in front for 37. Braat joins Klijnhans with the game swinging HBS’s way.

Scheepers and Fraser intent on digging Sparta out of trouble, the former pulling Levitt high over backward square for six. But there’s a very long way to go.

58* for Mitchell now, with Ingram playing a sheet-anchor role at the other end. Floyd and Turmaine – playing his first Topklasse game of the season – into the attack, commanding respect but not yet securing the breakthrough.

Sayed and Wolfe engineering a little recovery at De Diepput, with Thijs Vrolijk having replaced Wiggins from the Van Hoogenhoucklaan End. He’s switched to the other now.

Minhas now on 77*, Musa on 58*, and it’s all looking very, very straightforward for the leaders.

A defiant Doyle hammers Henrico Venter for six and four to go to his fifty, and lofts Julian de Mey back over his head for another six to take Hermes to three figures. He’s on 60* from 45 now, with Ostling on 31*.

And even more now, as Singh drives at Kaplan and gets a bottom-edge tickle onto the top of his off stump.

Another for Wiggins, Zaidi stumped by Patel. Young Mark Wolfe in to join Izhaan Sayed.

The runs are coming slowly for Mitchell and Ingram with Shariz now on from the City End. But there’s relatively little scoreboard pressure, and they’ll want to take this partnerhip deep. Sharad Hake into the attack from the Chalet End.

Hundred up for Punjab, 51* of them for Minhas, with Musa on 44*. Roman Harhangi starts with a maiden, but it’s wickets VOC need, increasingly desperately.

Botha returns to strangle Statham down the leg side, Del Bianco taking a fine diving catch. But he’s done his job, since Doyle is now able to resume. Ostling, meanwhile, has moved on to 23*.

And the misery continues, as Khan bottom-edges Jed Wiggins into his off and middle stumps. ACC once again in all sorts.

The wheels are once again disassociating themselves from the vehicle for ACC. Raza survives a strongly contested caught-behind appeal off Leonard, only to play on next ball, and then Teun Leijer makes Ben van der Merwe’s season even more miserable as he chases a wide one and edges through to Patel. Momen Khan in to join Zaidi.

Suddenly, both openers are gone at the Bermweg. It is, unsurprisingly, Kaplan who gets the first, bowling Balwantsingh all ends up. And then Nota has Ferguson caught by Levitt from the first ball of the next. That brings Mudford in to join Shaquille Martina,

Mitchell and Ingram looking to consolidate after that one-two from Fletcher, and Vikram Singh comes on from the Chalet End in an attempt to break what is starting to be quite a menacing stand betwen Excelsior’s big guns.

Hoseinbaks on from the Airport End, but by the time they take a drink Musa (36*) and Minhas (43*) have put their side firmly on top as De Kok continues to search for the breakthrough.

Ferguson and Balwantsingh have seen off Van Vliet and Molenaar, Kaplan and Alejo Nota into the attack for Voorburg. Steady rather than exhilarating, but solidity in the top order is something Sparta will undoubtedly welcome.

Ahmed’s gone as well, struck painfully on the forearm by Leonard and caught behind by Patel two balls later as he swings at a lifting delivery. Van der Merwe in with Raza now.

Doyle’s travails continue as, having raced to 36* off 22, he pulls at Klein, and this time he’s hit full on the helmet. And this time he calls it a day, although he strides off without obvious after-effects. In the absence of Olivier Elenbaas, Nick Statham comes in at three.

The first one’s down at Thurlede as well, where Etman, having reached 12, tries rather lazily to hit Fletcher over the top and is caught by Udit Nashier at long on. Roel Verhagen the new man. But he lasts just two deliveries, trapped in front as he tries to turn Fletcher to leg. Enter Lorenzo Ingram.

A wicket at De Diepput: Kumar can’t get over a delivery from Crowley which lifts on his nastily, and hits it into the covers, where Banerjee takes the catch. Anis Raza in at three.

Fifty up for Punjab in the final over of the initial powerplay, as Minhas cuts McKenzie uppishly but safely to the point boundary, and then repeats the dose. Arnan Jain, who bowled one over with the new ball, returns from the Pavilion End.

Ditto Ferguson and Balwantsingh, who have dealt with the first four overs from Mees van Vliet and Michael Molenaar.

Derek Mitchell and Tim Etman first to the crease for Excelsior, and they’ve also made a decent start against Fletcher and Eales.

Steady as she goes is the watchword for ACC, who will have to enter unknown territory if they are to make a serious challenge to HCC’s total. Rahil Ahmed and Aryan Kumar take on Crowley and Leonard, who give them little enough to work with in the initial overs.

A bigger ask for Ostling and Doyle, opening for Hermes against Kyle Klein from the Scoreboard End and Lehan Botha, albeit at Craeyenhout, where runs tend to flow like wine in a hospitality tent (if only . . . ). Play’s delayed for a while, however, as Doyle swings at a lifting delivery from Botha and appears to be hit on the grille. But after prolonged attention he’s able to continue.

A tidy enough start from Aaditt and McKenzie, but equally no serious alarums for Musa and Minhas, who have made a solid beginning to the chase.

. . . where Aaditt Jain has bowled the initial over from the Pavilion End to Musa Ahmad, who drives him expansively if somewhat off the edge through the gully for four. Jock McKenzie from the Airport End.

Kyle Klein and del Bianco finish strong, unbroken century stand between them, Klein finishes on 62* off 40 and del Bianco 40* off 31.

No big finish for VRA either, Ralston has Eales caught in the deep, Ingram clean bowls Fletcher. 175 all out with 21 balls unused.

Snoep sends one into the base of de Lange’s stumps, then has Romulo Concalves caught backward point to finish with figures of 4-38. Fraser wraps up his five-fer and the innings in the next, van Vliet LBW for 1, 5-45 for Fraser, and 218 the target.

Meanwhile at de Diepput Crowley and Patel have done quite a job for the hosts at the death, just seven runs short of a century stand to lift the hosts to 248 at the break, Patel last man out on the last ball having struck 55 off 31.

Kyle Klein and del Bianco still going hard at the back end for the crows as the former dances down to Dutt and puts him away high over long on, flicks fine for four two balls later, then brings up his fifty guiding him to the rope through third. Del Bianco with him on a better-than-brisk 27* off 24. Two overs to go.

Floyd has struggled to find the rope even as Turmaine feeds him the strike, finally falls to Gijs Kroesen chipping to short cover. Four balls later Turmaine goes too, ig top edge on the slog falling to Verhagen running around from midwicket. Eales and Fletcher in with four to go.

Wickets tumpling at Bermweg now, Klein drives Fraser straight to long off, Molenaar is cuaght in the covers off Snoep next over. Kaplan brings up his ton pulling Fraser in front of square for four but loses another partner soon after as Kingma is pinned LBW. Kaplan himself is Fraser fourth as he’s clean bowled missing a big heave across the line. Floris de Lange and Mees van Vliet for the last two.

The customary VOC rearguard disappoints rather as Jain nicks through stepping away to cut Kamal. Asief Hoseinbaks finds the rope with a fine glance a couple of balls later, but is cleaned up by Musa next over looking to go big and straight, missing and losing his middle stump. 225 will be the target.

Kyle Klein and del Bianco uppping the pace as the death approaches, Kkein takes Braat for consecutive boundaries first cutting hard for four then an uppish drive evades the field. Del Bianco picks up his first boundary in Woermeijer’s next. HBS could still get up to a solid score from here.

Kloppenburg’s stay at the crease was brief as he got across trying to sweep Arya only to spoon it into the hands of the keeper, Wiggins but doesn’t long outlast him either as he’s caught in the deep off Ben van der Merwe for 42. Crowley and Patel in now.

Kamal back and a double strike as Aaditt Jain chips a low full toss to midwicket before Harhangi is trapped in front first ball. Udphayaya survives a huge shout for LBW on the hat-trick ball, but no joy for Kamal. Still an impressive fightback from Punjab, this.

Kroesen bags another as Nashier’s slog across the line is held in the seep on the on side. Leon Turmaine to the crease and immediately off the mark cutting behind point.

Tom Hoornweg has Croes squared up and pinned in front for 16, Ryan Klein joins Kaplan, who’s into the 70s.

Another great take down leg from Shinwari sees Sikander collect a third wicket, van de Meulen gone. Jain Brothers the rearguard again as Mus Ahmad comes into the attack.

Dutt gets Barresi in the end, steps across to scoop but can’t get enough pace or elevation to clear short fine and gone for a handy 32. De Villiers still there though, or rather he was, as I type he picks out deep square off Woermeijer and gone for 80. Kyle Klein and Luca del Bianco the new bats.

Banerjee’s long vigil comes to an end meanwhile, two short of fifty as a bit of extra bounce from Kothari looks to clip the glove on it’s way through. Teun Kloppenburg joins Wiggins.

VRA lose another, down leg from Luuk Kroesen and Ahmad gives chase, looks like he’s swept that directly onto his stumps. Clayton Floyd in at seven.

Sikander Zulfiqar into the attack, offers McKenzie width and is cut for four, but four balls later has a struggling Tim de Kok caught down the leg side for 1 off 17. McKenzie goes to fifty driving square for four in Zulfiqar’s next, but is castled next ball. Arnav Jain in with van de Meulen now.

De Lange’s innings is brought to an end at fifty exactly as he miscues Snoep to mid on. Croes joins Kaplan and gets off the mark sweeping a full toss from Singh for four behind square.

De Villiers and Barresi looking to press the advantage, the latter gets a big top edge up off van Giezen, Statham leaves it for the man coming in from short fine but it goes down. Coud be costly as this pair look to kick on, de Villiers into the 70s, Barresi on 22*.

HCC have lost their captain a while back, given LBW to Zaidi for 40, but Wiggins has started positively with a run-a-ball 20 to take them to triple figures, Banerjeee still there have ground out 35 from some 85 balls. Arya into the attack.

Ahmad and Singh have stabilised the innings for VRA meanwhile, the latter into the forties. Roel Verhagen into the attack and Singh goes after him, taking him for four and two over the on side. In his next over Verhagen strikes back though, wide and short and Singh cuts into the hands of Luuk Kroesen at backward point. Nashier in.

Fifty for Bettleheim meanwhile, brings it up stroking Hussain out to deep extra for one. McKenzie still with him on 29*. Saqib Zulfiqar on at the other end. And as I type he finds the breakthrough, Bettleheim rocking back to cut and nicking through, gone for 56. Tim de Kok in.

Braat brings himself into the attack too, and with immediate results, beats Walbrugh’s outside edge with his second ball, then has him wafting outside off and Statham holds a fine diving catch off the toe end low to his left. Walbrugh goes for 44, Barrresi in.

Voorburg become the third side to pass three figures as de Lange sweeps Baker hard and fine for four, Kaplan takes four more off Hoornweg in the next lofting him over mid on. Both bats closing in on half-centuries as Sparta look rather bereft of ideas. Snoep brings himself on.

Hundred up for the Crows too, de Villiers and Walbrugh both looking well set, though the atter was put down at slip off Dutt a few overs back. Still Dutt for Hermes, operating in tandem with left-armer Ekrami.

After a comparatively sedate passage of play Gorlee brings up the fifty partnership sweeping Kothari over the square rope for six. Been slow going otherwise though. Zaidi from the other end…

McKenzie brings up the hundred for VOC with a driven single through point off Tariq, who bowls his quota uninterrupted to finish with 2-37.

Fifty partnership between de Lange and Kaplan up as we go to drinks at Bermweg..

Ingram gets one to grip and takes Prince’s off stump, VRA three down of a sudden. Shariz Ahmad to the middle and the visitors very much on the back foot.

Another for Tariq and it’s Schierhout that goes three short of fifty, big leading edge looking to clear midwicket and fall mid on jogging in. McKenzie in and opens his account glancing fine for four.

Smal just looked to be getting into his groove with a lovely straight drive off Kroesen, when next ball he’s clipped on the pads and gone. Prince joins Singh, who’s on 22*. Ingram on at the other end now.

Another down at Craeyenhout meanwhile, van Giezen has Mason playing across the line looking to brush one off his pads, misses and hit in front. Finger goes up. De Villiers in and immediately takes him for back-to-back boundaries.

Second wicket partnership just building at Bermeweg now too, Max Hoornweg into the attack looking for the breakthrough.

Fifty up for VOC meanwhile, Schierhout brings it up flicking Tariq square off his pads for a couple, then rocks back to lift him for four over midwicket. Kamal from the other end now.

Mason and Walbrugh consolidating for now, the latter on a particularly watchful 11* off 26 and clearly intent on batting time today. Still Elenbaas and van Giezen for Hermes.

Sayed has removed McInerney meanwhile, edged through on the drive, Gorlee in with Banerjee now.

And VRA have also lost their first, Rasool caught behind off Ralston by way of a looping top-edge on the pull. Smal in with Singh now.

One down at Hazelaarweg too as Fourie mistimes a drive off Tariq and spoons it up to Musa Ahmad backtracking from mid-off. Bettelheim joins Schierhout in the middle.

After a fairly quiet start Michael Levitt looks to get after Fraser, driving him for four through long noff and then four more through cover, but two balls later misjudges either the length or the line or both as he leaves one that takes the top of off stump. Kaplan joins de Lange.

First wicket of the day falls at Craeyenhout as Lehan Bothan looks to pull Ralph Elenbaas square and a thick top edge is held deep on the leg side. Walbrugh in at three to join Mason. Sam van Giezen shares the new ball in the absence of the suspended Olivier Elenbaas.

McInerney and Banerjee opening for the hosts, Izhaan Sayed and Momen Khan share the new ball. First runs off the bat come ten balls in as Khan digs one in short and McInerney pulls high and hard for six over square.

Sparta win the toss and put VCC in to bat.

HCC batting first at ACC’s invitation over at de Diepput, and looks like a timely start too.

Hermes win the toss and elect to bowl first.

VOC win the toss and bat at Hazelaarweg.

Excelsior win the toss and invite VRA to bat.