Topklasse Live | Round 8 | As it Happened

Zulfiqar smashes Shariz back over his head and into the sightscreen, and a series of singles see Rotterdam home, Rotterdam win by six wickets, and VRA find themselves seventh on the table.

Then Zulfiqar hammers Shariz over cover for another boundary, before lofting him brutally over extra for six more. Niaz drives Abhinay through extra for four, to reduce the target to 9 off eight overs.

Abhinay back from the City End, and Zulfiqar pumps him wide of mid-on for four. Burhan Niaz is the new man, i think, and VRA still need something remarkable to deny Rotterdam victory here.

Shariz strikes again: Niazi Musa caught behind for 86. Sikander Zulfiqar in at six (no Saqib today).

Shariz into the attack, and he grabs the wicket of Riaz, caught by Darsh Abhinay for a 30-ball 48. Musa, on 78*, is joined by debutant Abdul Rehman Khan Riazi. Rotterdam still need 50, but they have 14 and a half overs to get them in.

And a double for Brown, and a second successive Michelle: first Rippon nicks off for 27, and next ball Jaynul Islam skies him into the covers. He finishes with five for 44, and HCC win by 117 runs.

Bang-bang for Floyd: Khawaja slices a would-be massive blow over cow to Staal at third man, and three balls later Aaditt Jain is trapped in front. Mees van Vliet in to join Rippon.

VRA, too, are getting into miracle-required territory, with Musa on 76* and Riaz on 35*.

Voorburg sink further into their hole, as De Leede plays on to Floyd and departs for 40. Tanveer Khawaja in to join Rippon, but it’s hard to see any way back from here.

The end comes quickly and messily: Del Bianco bowls a no-ball (perhaps a field placing issue), and the first free hit delivery’s a wide full toss. The second is smacked through midwicket for four by Bangs, and the next through the covers for the winning boundary. Bangs finishes with 88*, his highest Topklasse score, Jacod on 52*, as Kampong win by seven wickets. With Voorburg looking at defeat at De Diepput, Kampong could well be back on top this evening.

The stand’s up to 110 now, and Kampong are on the brink of a very comfortable win. Bangs with his third Topklasse half-century has gone to 78*, with Jacod also reaching fifty.

Singh back from the City End, and he’s going to have to work some of his magic if VRA are to get back into this game. Musa on 68*, and 101 more needed.

De Leede on to 32* now, but 148 off 21 overs is a big ask, the required rate drifiting to towards sevens. Trijzelaar continues to put in a fine shift, with Floyd keeping things quiet at the other end.

Fifty for Bangs, who fends a Del Bianco bouncer off his grille over the slips for a couple, then lofts his next delivery over long on for six. His half-century comes from 46 balls, and it looks as if that one ended up in the water.

One brings two in the Bos, as Nidamanuru bowls Gondal for 11. Mohsin Riaz joins Musa.

Scoreboard pressure aplenty at De Diepput, though, and now Trijzelaar has removed Klein, caught by Crowley for 17. Rippon in to join De Leede, with 166 still required from 27 overs.

Del Bianco on from the University End, bowling with a fair bit of hostility. But Jacod and Bangs are well set now, and they’re able to pick off the singles. Not really any scoreboard pressure at this stage.

Musa reaches his fifty, but then the breakthrough comes: Minhas turns Cassidy behind square, comes for a single, Musa sends him back, and he’s stranded as a quick return hits the stumps. He goes for 34, and Muhammad Gondal joins Musa, who’s on 51*.

De Leede and Klein are still there, facing Trijzelaar and Vrolijk, but the asking rate is beginning to climb. Their problem is that they have to stay there, but at some point they will need to raise the run rate, and that means taking more risks. HCC can afford to play a waiting game.

Klein and Goedeke back into the attack, and Bangs has a stroke of good fortune as he cuts the latter through De Mey at slip and gets three. Then Jacod reverse-sweeps him to the third man boundary, and at the end of the over Jacod’s on 35*, Bangs on 23*. 83 still required.

After a drinks break Sam Cassidy and Nidamanuru are on for VRA; still no breakthrough, but they have managed to restrict the scoring somewhat. Musa now on 48*, Minhas on 27*.

Brown bowls Levitt for 18, and now Voorburg are in real trouble. Ryan Klein batting with De Leede, and apart from Rippon there’s not all that much to follow. 252 is starting to look a long way off.

Having got to 16, O’Dowd slices De Mey to Walbrugh at deep point and departs. Lachlan Bangs in, and Kampong still have a lot of work to do.

Singh replaces Abid, but when Hake continues from the City End Minhas drives him uppishly but safely to the cover boundary, lofts him over extra for a second , and finishes the over with the blow through midnwicket for a third.

Croes survives a sustained, fairly insistent appeal for leg-before off Crowley which fails to convince the umpire, much to the Lions’ disgust. But two balls later he swings across the line, Patel flings the ball exultantly in the air, and this time the finger goes up. He goes for 14, Bas de Leede in.

Van Oosterom and De Mey succeed Klein and Goedeke, but O’Dowd and Jacod are settling in for what is a vital partnership for Kampong after the loss of those early wickets.

Musa goes after Abid, smacking him for a trio of boundaries, the first of them a delightful square drive. A flyer for Rotterdam, as they put last Monday’s debacle firmly behind them.

Brown has bowled Glover without scoring, so now it’s Noah Croes at the crease, with Voorburg in early trouble as they chase 251.

Another for Klein, this time it’s Edwards leg-before for four. Pierre Jacod joins O’Dowd.

Rotterdam have begun their chase in the Bos, Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas facing Ashir Abid, in the side for the first time this season, and Sharad Hake..

Jamil and Dutt finish it off, Dutt forcing Harhangi through midwicket for the winning boundary, and Hermes win by five wickets.

De Lange, after lashing Brown expansively over the gully for four and then driving through the covers for another, mistimes another drive and is caught by Justin Trijzelaar. Don Glover in at three.

Back on at De Diepput, Levitt and De Lange facing Brown and Crowley. Two boundaries for Levitt off Crowley the main excitement so far.

Van den Berg drives Klein sweetly through extra for four, but then he pins him in front for 12 (all Kampong’s runs so far), and Edwards joins O’Dowd in the middle.

Dutt has other ideas, pulling Ludwig Spies over square leg for six, and that brings Harhangi back from the Railway End.

They’re back at Maarschalkerweerd, Van den Berg and O’Dowd opening as usual, Kyle Klein starting from the University End. Three off it, and Goedeke from the Pavilion End.

You can’t rule it out, you know, as Hoseinbaks pins Statham in front. Mussayab Jamil and Aryan Dutt at the crease now, and the Bloodhounds’ noses are probably working overtime.

The first ball after drinks, Ekenbaas edges low to Van der Meulen at slip, who plucks it off his bootlaces for a very smart catch. Surely VOC couldn’t turn this around?

Malik gives way to Asief Hoseinbaks after that one over, but he, too, goes for back-to-back fours, from the bat of Elenbaas. But he then removes Rushmore, of whom VOC probably feel they’ve seen more than enough. Hoseinbaks gets one past him as he makes to drive, and he departs for 22, Nick Statham in at five.

A handy cameo from Jack Cassidy comes to an end as he jumps across trying to scoop Ahmad over his shoulder and is bowled for 23. Hake in to join Abhinay, which rather slows the pace of the running, and Hake is indeed last man out commendably chancing an unlikely two on the final ball of the innings. The hosts probably about 30 short of par here I reckon, and batting’s only gonna get easier this afternoon.

Rushmere takes Malik for back-to-back boundaries trhough the off side to take Hermes past fifty meanwhile, halfway home after that early wobble..

Vrolijk skips down at Jain and cuts hard to find the rope off the final ball of the innings, lifting the hosts past the 250 mark. Voorburg will need 252 for the points this afternoon.

Another down here at the Bos as Shariz falls to an excellent catch in the deep by Gondal off Shahzad. Azidi joins Cassidy and scores a brisk 11 before holing out off Gondal too Riaz on the rope. Abhinay in to join Jack Cassidy for the final three.

Klein the last to go, run out looking to retain the strike with a dubious double and falls for 33. HBS all out for 177.

Voorburg’s impressive fightback continues as Jain removes Crowley and Brown in the space of three balls. Vrolijk and Trijzelaar the last pair with two overs to go. Islam to bowl the 49th.

Debutant Ajinka More into the attack for Kampong, and removes Scholte with a low full toss into the woodwork fourth ball. Van Oosterom trapped LBW by Jacod two overs later, and last man Boddendijk joins Klein.

First down for Hermes as Harhangi gets one to jag back in to Ostling and takes his off pole, Rushmere joins Doyle-Calle. And another! Back into the bat again from back of a length, takes DDC’s inside edge and into the gloves. Oli Elenbaas at four.

Singh loses another partner as Cassidy shuffles down the track and offers a sharp low return chance to Shafiq’s right, great catch there. And as I type the risky running strikes again, Singh chances a tight second after chopiing Shafiq into space behind point, direct hit from Niazi catches him with his bat just about on the line, very tight call but the right one I reckon, run out by a whisker for 91. Shariz Ahmad and Jack Cassidy in now.

Maiden five-fer for Cedric de Lange, gets Yash Patel now as HCC continue to stumble at the back end of the innings. Crowley in with Brown now looking to make the best of the death.

And they’re back on at the Loopuyt, Ostling and Doyle opening for the hosts, Harhangi takes the new ball. Wide first up, tidy for the rest until the last ball where he offers a little width and Doyle cuts him away for four behind point. Upahyaya shares the new ball.

Just as HBS looked to be rebuilding, Bangs intervenes with two in two, Singh caught behind trying to whip him to leg, then Mason castled first ball. Scholte in to join Klein.

Nidamanuru comes and goes, holing out straight off Minhas. Sam Cassidy in with Singh now, who’s into the 70s.

Meanwhikle Aadit Jain has removed the HCC skipper for 38, spearing one through Gorlee into the base of the stumps. And now de Lange removes Worden and Floyd in the space of one over, HCC wobbling as they look to kick on.

Well chanceless apart from the running, and it’s the running that breaks the partnership, Smal sold up the river by Singh rather and run out for 39. Nidamamuru in.

VOC’s slump continues at the Loopuyt as Jabarkhail cleans up fourie with his first ball, then bowls Hoseinbaks behind his legs jumping across in his next over. Spies the last man, and a first baller for him as the leggie takes his off stump. Jabarkhail finishes with figures of 3-2 in 1.2 as VOC are skittled for 105.

150up for HCC as Gorlee takes van Vliet for a maximum, the home captian into the 20s at about a run a ball. could be on for a big score here if the hosts can press the advantage.

Another for Swanepoel as Goedeke mistimes a pull and it floats up to mid-on for a simple catch. Klein in.

Singh and Smal still motoring along here, Shafiq has replaced Ahmad at the city end but barring an attempted wide-saving appeal for caught behind has yet to unsettle the pair. Minhas on at the other end now.

Swanepoel into the attack for Kampong now and finds reward with the first ball of his third, gets one to climb on Del Bianco, who can only fend to gully. Goedeke, still there on 33*, is joined by Navjit Singh.

A fourth for Ralph Elenbaas as he nicks off Malik for a nine-ball duck, Upahyaya and Fourie looking to salvage something from the innings now as the former stokes Kothari out to long on for one to take them to three figures at the half-way point.

VCC still looking to force their way back into the match, Islam has Kloppenburg caught behind for 8 to bring Boris Gorlee to the middle. Platform set the hosts though.

Fifty for Singh as he punches Ahmad away behind point for a couple, other than a couple of tight run out opportunities it’s been pretty much chanceless too.

After a watchful knock van der Meulen gets one in the slot from Elenbaas and puts it away over the leg side for six, but the introduction of left arm spin next over dows for him, clean bowled by Kothari for 31. Harhangi in at 7, but doesn’t last long, nicks behind off Elenbaas next over. Ahsan Malik in.

HCC lose their second, and it’s de Lange again who has Banerjee caught for 37. Teun Kloppenburg in at four.

De Mey opens the face to runs Bangs down wide of third for four, but goes next ball bottom-edging a pull into his stumps. Del Bianco joins Goedeke.

Back after the early drinks break (word is we’re having some extra drinks today on account of it’s nice weather) Niaz into the attack to immediate effect. Padda driving loosely outside off is caught in the covers for 21. Smal joins Singh, who’s on 39*. Musa Ahmad on at the other end now.

Price goes now, miscuing Elebaas to cover. Fourie in.

Fifty for Tonny Staal meanwhile as he and Banerjee close in on a century opening psrtnership. Spin at both ends now with Rippon and de Lange on, and as I type de Lange breaks the stand,Staal goes for 53, Zach Worden at three.

Another down at the Loopuyt and Butt pops up a leading edge toward mid off off Elenbaas and caught for 23. Price in with van der Meulen now.

Big wicket at Maarschalerweerd as Bangs beats Botha on the drive, feather edge through and gone. Goedeke in.

Protracted ball hunt yields nothing, so a selection is made from the spares. Still Shahzad and Tariq, and fifty up for the hosts as Singh pulls the latter over midwicket to the boundary rider.

Two maidens on the bounce to start for Aryan Dutt, but van der Meulen takes VOC to fifty in the next driving Elenbaas out to the cover sweeper. Three balls later Butt skips down the track to whip him through the leg side for four. Another five dots from Dutt before he finally gives up his first runs, Butt squeezing him through the cordon for a couple, which prompts a weirdly early drinks break it seems.

Double bowling change for Kampong too as Bangs replaces Roy and now Jacod takes over from Kumar. Botha and de Mey still comparatively citrcumspect for HBS.

Staal and Banerjee still building for HCC, Aadit Jain into the attack but faring little better than Glover did. Rippon on at the other end.

Double bowling change at the Loopuy as Dutt takes over from Braat and Ralph Elenbaas replaces his brother. Butt and van der Meulen still together, both in the teens now.

Padda picks up his first boundary cutting Tariq hard behind point, and next over Singh backs away for room to loft Sharaz over extra for four. Next over Padda drives Tariq high and handsome back over his head and stands to admire the shot before realising it’s plugged in the outfield and the run just one. Singh shows how it’s done with three authoritative fours over the covers. Ball hunt ensues.

Walbrugh’s poor season continues as he’s bowled on the drive by Kumar, Botha joins de Mey.

Glover coming in for some tap at de Diepput, Staal and Banerjee have takes 27 off his first three overs. Brisk start for the hosts.

Bucking the trend to bat first looking a dicey decision for VOC as Montague is struck in front and up goes the finger, a seconf for the ebullient Elenbaas. Van der Meulen in. Braat struggling to settle into a rythm at the other end, couple of wides and a boundaries in the fourth as ther Hermes skipper repeatedly aborts his run, maybe still a little soft underfoot?

Singh and Padda opening for the hosts here, Suleiman Tariq takes the new ball. Draws Singh forward and beats the bat first up, but then twice punished for width as Singh puts him on either side of point for two twos. Outfield still looks a little sluggish for now but will likely quicken up in the sun later. Shahzad shares the new ball.

Banerjee and Staal opening for the hosts, the latter takes Glover for two boundaries in the second over, otherwise uneventful. Islam shares the new ball.

Tough return for TdK. After edging Elenbaas across his stumps for four, is squared up by a shorter one and nicks behind. Montague joins Samir Butt in the middle.

De Mey and Walbrugh open for the the Crows, Shashank Kumar takes the new ball. De Mey opens the face to guide him behind pouint second ball for four, the only scoring shot of the over. Roy from the other end.

Punjab win the slightly delayed toss and elect to bowl. No Saqib Zulfiqar or Carl Mumba today, Khurram Shahzad and Niazi in. Jack Cassidy and Ahir Abid back up in the ones today for the hosts.

Huh. Shows what I know. VOC win the toss at the Loopuyt and will bat first. Tim de Kok back in the side today.

At Maarschalerweerd is that the hosts have won the toss and also elected to bowl, as one imagines everyone will today.

Down at de Diepput word is Voorburg have won the toss and will bowl.

Here at the Bos it seems the covers weren’t quite a match for the absolutely torrential thunderstorm yesterday. bit of a damp patch, sun is doing it’s work though, inspection in 15 minutes hoping for an 11.15 start.