Topklasse Live | Rounds 10, 11 | As it Happened

Well no second photo finish for us today it seems, a tidy couple of overs from Schoonheim and McKenzie leave Sparta needing an improbable 20 off the last with just one wicket in hand. Schoonheim defends comfortably, and VOC win by 15 runs.

The outcome at Westvliet hasn’t been in any doubt for ages of course, but still we get some drama at the last Hermes are bowled out in exactly fifty a little under half way to the target. They were just seven down with three balls to go when Gigani produced a rolling pick-up and throw to run out Sam van Giezen, before Kaplan twice combined with van Vliet at long off to complete the team hat-trick. Hermes all out on the last ball for 163 as Voorburg win by 170 runs. That was not close.

ACC break 200 for the first time this season, but it won’t be enough. Wolfe unbeaten on 25* as Excelsior win by 37 runs

Snoep and Baker haven’t given up the chase at Bermweg though, 36 needed off the last four. McKenzie to bowl the 47th and finds the breakthrough third ball, Snoep driving uppishly and held at mid off by Jain. Hoornweg at ten blocks two balls and then lofts one over extra to the rope. Schoonheim to bowl the 48th. Tens required.

Venter bowls the 46th and gives up 12, swining things back in the visitors’ favour, BArresi brings back Kyle Klein to try to finish things off. The pressure’s telling in the field though, five overthrows first ball brings the required runs down to just 9. Then a single. Klein holds his nerve though, pace on and finds a leading edge, Mason holds the catch and HBS win by 7 runs.

Botha gets Patel, big top edge on the pull held around mid on, and last man Teun Leijer joins Leonard. 200 comes up as de Villiers takes Leijer’s edge and it bisects slip and keeper. Still only five an over required for HCC, but just the one wicket needed for the hosts.

Sparta’s challenge is likewise fading as Aaditt Jain castles Ahmadi and then his elder brother has Fraser caught in the deep on the sweep. Snoep and Baker in now with fifty needed off 7 overs.

ACC’s hopes rapidly receding now as Ingram removes Kumar and Hans in succession. He’s bowled out now, finishing with figures of 3-29, but the asking rate is deep into double figures now and almost certainly beyond Wolfe, Kothari and the tail.

De Villiers strikes a crucial blow for the Crows, bowling Overdijk for 37. Leonard in with Patel now, the latter also in the thirties. Patel’s playing a fine hand for now, 35 to get and 8 overs to get them – if he doesn’t run out of partners…

Scoreboard pressure starting to tell and it’s Floris de Lange that profits, the legspinner bagging three wickets in succession. Ostling goes for 52, then Klijnhans LBW for 33 and Ralph Elenbaas for a duck next ball. Jacobus Nel then has Olivier Elenbaas caught in the deep soon after drinks, though the total’s been well beyond Hermes for some time now.

Fraser and Singh looking to consolidate, but Aaditt Jain finds the break-through, splitting Singh’s stumps to bring Ahmadi to the crease with 72 still needed

Sheena goes for 54, holing out off Ingram to deep midiwicket. Kumar and Wolfe now for ACC..

Eales had been playing a defiant knock for VRA even as wickets fell around him, clubbing Kamal for successive sixes over square before taking the long handle to Saqib in the next. He races into the sixties but Turmaine’s gone, LBW to Saqib missing a reverse, and now Fletcher goes too and Shahzad rips one through his defense into the stumps Eales himself is last man out for a 62-ball 63, nicking behind off Sikander as Punjab win by 68 runs.

Wickets falling at Bermeg now too as Ferguson falls to Schoonheim for 52 before Hoseinbaks removes Scheepers and Martina in succession. Fraser and Singh the new bats..

Crowley and Overdijk’s half century stand for the 7th wicket comes to an end as Venter has Crowley caught by Walbrugh in front of point for 25, Yash Patel joins Overdijk now.

The Sayed and Sheena partnership is finally broken by Luuk Kroesen, who has Sayed caught on the square rope for 30. Raza in.

Wickets still falling at the Zomercomplex meanwhile, Shahzad removes Shariz by way of a thick outside edge simply held at point, and now Saqib hits Floyd on the back pad and draws the finger. Nashier joins Eales, but not for long as Kamal has him caught behind next over. Turmaine in with Eales now.

Ferguson brings up his fifty stroking Schoonheim out through the on side for a couple, then drives through extra to bring up the 100 for Sparta. Martina survives a big LBW shout next ball, but VOC still can’t find a way through this partnership. Hoseinbaks from the other end.

Hermes beginning to falter in their improbable chase, Levitt bowls Ekrami missing a mad swipe across the line, Nick Statham hangs around for a few overs before being sold a dummy by Ostling and run out for 11. CP Klijnhans in with Ostling now, the latter on 39*

Sayed and Sheena have stabilised the innings somewhat at Thurlede, INgram and van Troost now for the hosts.

Staal’s departure has sparked another collapse at Craeyenhout, Banerjee goes edging behind trying to cut Botha, then does the same to Wiggins in his next before Kloppenburg holes out to long on off Boddendijk. Crowley and Overdijk in now with HCC on the ropes.

VRA lose another as Saqib Zulfiqar takes Prince’s outside edge with a quicker ball that turns away just enough. Shariz Ahmad joins Eales. Hundred comes up but 254 looks a long way off yet.

Aaditt Jain into the attack, and Ferguson puts him back over his head and into the bushes prompting a protracted ball-hunt. He and Martina have doubled the score since the first wicket now, Sparta looking well on course.

Smal falls victim to a needless run-out, pressure very much on VRA at the moment. Eales in with Prince, the latter scoring freely now after taking a while to get his eye in.

Ostling and Ekrami have navigated the power-play without any substantial incident. 42 off it. Very long way to go of course.

Botha back of a length to Staal and it seems to climb on him, fends at it and edged through to the keeper. He goes for a counter-attacking 42 off 27. Wiggins joins Banerjee.

Ralston’s added two more wickets to his ever-increasing tally for the season, Ben van der Merwe given caught behind after a long period of reflection from the umpire, Shreyas Potdar rather more straightforwardly bowled by a slower ball later in the over. Sayed and Sheena now for ACC.

McKenzie has Mudford walking right past as slower yorker and bowled. Martina at three.

HCC meanwhile have recovered well from a horror start, Staal and Banerjee putting together a half-century stand for the third wicket..

VRA lose a second as Singh looks to sweep Tariq but only succeeds in popping up a simple catch for Zulfiqar in the covers. Prince at four.

They’ve finally got the second innings underway at Westvliet too, Ostling opening with Ekrami today. Kingma takes the new ball, wide down leg to start but no runs off the bat in the first. Van Vliet from the other end.

Lubbers into the attack and strikes third ball to remove Ahmed LBW. Van der Merwe joins Potdar.

Back on at Berweg too, Mudford opening with Ferguson, Jain and McKenzie share the new ball. Bit loose from the latter in the second, and Mudford now using his feet in the third to drive Jain for four, all told a positive start from Sparta so far.

VRA lose their first as Tariq floats a slower ball full and into the stumps past Rasool’s flashing slog. Smal in.

And HCC’s chase is underway at Craeyenhout to, though hardly the start they would have wanted. Kyle Klein strikes first ball as McInerney is caught short leg off a leading edge, and four balls later Boris Gorlee is caught off a top-edged pull.

Back in action at Thurlede too, where Ralston starts with two wides down leg and then drops short to Rahil Ahmed, who pulls him away square for six. Niels Etman from the other end now.

And they’re back on already at the Zomercomplex, Suleiman Tariq opens with a maiden to Vikram Singh, Khurram Shahzad from the other end follows suit as Shirase Rasool plays out six dots. First runs come i the third as Singh finds a single to long off before Rasool drives handsomely through extra to the rope for four.

Nel is run out as they push for an ambitious second. But that’s Voorburg’s highest top-flight total since the 1993 season, when they played 55 overs, and their highest ever off 50 overs in the top flight.

The traditional flurry of wickets at the end: Molenaar caught by Klijnhans off Ralph Elenbaas, Van Vliet bowled first ball, and Floris de Lange bowled by Olivier Elenbaas. But Voorburg won’t mind too much about that. Now Kingma’s holed out to Ostling as the champions pursue the Eagles’ theme of ‘Take It To the Limit’.

Sayed eventually strikes back, Ingram caught on the square leg boundary by Mark Wolfe for 86. But Lubbers goes on to 84*, Niels Etman hits a quick 18*, and Excelsior can be well pleased with that recovery.

Kaplan eventually holes out to Ostling on the midwicket boundary off Olivier Elenbaas’s bowling for 120, but Voorburg have posted the first 300-plus total of the season. Viv Kingma in for the closing stages.

A flurry of wickets at the Bermweg, with Ahmadi bowling De Kok without scoring and Fraser, bowling fast, full and straight, removing Aaditt Jain, Jelte Schoonheim and Roman Harhangi in the space of five deliveries. Then Hoseinbaks is run out, and it’s all over. Five for 34 for Fraser, his third Michelle in four innings.

Singh and Venter wag the HBS tail to some purpose, and HCC will need to make 228 to win. That’s less at Craeyenhout than in many other places, but it will still take some getting.

Nothing can deny Kaplan his fourth century of the season, and Klein gives him excellent support until, on 27, he drives uppishly at Van Dam and is caught at mid-off by Olivier Elenbaas. Kaplan on 107*, as Molenaar comes to the crease.

Wickets tumble at the Zomercomplex, as Floyd removes Sikander for 41, Singh gets Niaz for 27, and then Eales cleans up the last two as Punjab pursue their policy of using all what DLS calls their ‘resource’. Three wickets apiece for Eales and Singh, but Punjab’s total will take some getting.

Ahmadi removes Bettelheim for 91, done by an immaculate yorker. And then, as VOC battle to accelerate, Van der Meulen edges Fraser through to Mudford and goes for 16. Tim de Kok makes a delayed entrance.

A string of wides by Aryan Kumar boost Excelsior’s total, but Ingram and Lubbers are doing that pretty competently without help. Now on 84* and 79* respectively.

HCC have nearly finished the job, or at least the first half of it. Leijer picks up a fourth, bowling Scholte, and then Overdijk returns to take Boddendijk’s leading edge as he hacks across the line and see him caught by Staal at point. Klein’s the next to go, caught by off McInerney at deep extra, and so now the last pair, Singh and Venter are together.

In fairness to Hermes, their depleted attack is sticking to the task pretty well here, and Voorburg aren’t (yet) finishing with a flourish. But they’ve gone past 250, and they still have ten overs to go. And Kaplan’s on 92*.

Eales strikes for VRA, Shinwari made to wait a long time and then skying the next delivery towards the gully. He made 26, but since then Sikander and Burhan Niaz have made steady progress, Sikander now on 35*.

The stand’s worth 111 now, with Ingram on 67* and Lubbers on 60*. Hans back from the City End, but ACC will have to bat very well to challenge Excelsior here.

McKenzie moves across to outside off as Scheepers approaches, but succeeds only in pulling him to Martina at midwicket. Definitely 1-nil to the bowler there. McKenzie made 22, and is succeeded by Arnav Jain, who joins Bettelheim on 83*.

Kaplan has gone to 71*, Klein to 11*, and as they take another drink at Westvliet it’s looking ominous for Hermes.

Two more gone at Craeyenhout: first Del Bianco, on 34, pulls Leijer to Crowley on the square leg rope. He seems reluctant to depart, but the umpire doesn’t give him a choice. Two balls later De Villiers spoons up a catch for Overdijk at midwicket and departs for 40. Kyle Klein and Martijn Scholte together now.

200 up already at the Zomercomplex, and with Sikander and Shinwari in and going, VRA could be facing a very demanding chase.

Bettelheim has eased his way to 78*, and with McKenzie at the other end VOC are well placed to set Sparta a total of 200-plus. .

Ingram’s gone past fifty for the 46th time in his illustrious career, and he’s on 48* now, with Lubbers on 41*. Very bad news for ACC, this partnership.

Croes comes and goes, staying long enough to see Kaplan reach yet another half-century, but then the Voorburg skipper falls in very strange circumstances. He plays forward to Ekrami, no-one seems sure what’s happened, they stroll a single, but apparently the ball clipped the stumps, and he’s gone, bowled. Weird. Kaplan 59*, Ryan Klein the new man.

A useful stand evolving between De Villiers and Del Bianco, as they’ve added 57 in double-quick time. De Villiers on 38*, Del Bianco 31*.

A maiden Topklasse wicket for Van Dam, and what a wicket it is! Levitt, on 105, falls to a very good catch indeed on the midwicket boundary, beautifully judged by Ash Ostling. He needed only 83 deliveries for that superb knock. Kaplan’s on 48* as Croes joins him.

Another one gone at the Zomercomplex, as Saqib plays back to Floyd, is beaten, and hears the stumps shattered. He made 33, and Shinwari comes in now to join skipper Sikander.

There’s the breakthrough: Fraser induces Fourie to pull, the top edge flies out to midwicket, and Shaquille Martina does the rest. Fourie departs for 39, Bettelheim on 56* and joined by Jock McKenzie.

Sayed back from the Chalet End, but Ingram and Lubbers are equal to the challenge. Although Ingram may have had a moment, when he comes forward defensively, the bowler gathers the ball and has a throw, none too accurately, at the stumps. Ingram 44*, Lubbers 38*.

Barresi goes to 45, but then he reverse slog-sweeps Wiggins into the hands of Leijer at point. Lucas del Bianco in now.

Rik van Dam on from the Paddock End, and off his final delivery Levitt takes the single which brings up his century. Not sure what it says that that’s the first in the Topklasse this season by a Dutch-qualified player. Kaplan, whose thirst for runs is unquenchable, is on 44*.

Shariz on, and Riaz, on 19, chops his second delivery into his stumps. Punjab in danger of squandering their good start here, as Sikander Zulfiqar joins brother Saqib at the crease.

Bettelheim has overtaken Fourie, moving to 41* with his partner on 38*. Fraser returns from the Pavilion End as we reach the halfway mark in the innings; this pair have built a great platform, albeit slowly, but do VOC have the middle order to capitalise?

Ditto ACC at much-less-run-rich Thurlede, which has scarcely been a batting paradise all season. Watchfulness is the watchword for Ingram and Lubbers, the former playing out a maiden from Reddy. Raza comes on himself from the City End. Ingram 31*, Lubbers 16*.

HCC are doing a pretty job of containing the home side at run-rich Craeyenhout. Leonard back now from the Scoreboard End, Jed Wiggins on from the other.

Big, big wicket for VRA, as Vandiar, having turned him five for four, swings across the line and sees his middle stump uprooted. You miss, I hit. Saqib Zulfiqar in to join Riaz.

Van Giezen back from the Pavilion End after earlier coming in for some serious tap, and this time he goes for eight from the over. Levitt, lapping him fine a couple of times and moving to 83*. Kaplan on 34*.

Baker’s no less parsimonious than the seamers, and runs are still hard to come by at the Bermweg. But Fourie’s made his way to 36*, Bettelheim on 25*.

Hans removes Verhagen, who comes down the wicket driving, misses, and edges another catch to Van der Merwe. Victor Lubbers in to join Ingram, who’s on 18*.

A big wicket for Teun Leijer at Craeyenhout, as Walbrugh lashes him midwicketwards, where Overdijk takes the catch. He’s gone for 16, and Matt de Villiers joins Barresi.

Another for Singh: Musa, on 20, lunges forward at a gentle delivery and pushes it straight to Floyd at point. That’s the cue for a drink at the Zomercomplex as Mohsin Riaz joins Vandiar.

Hundred up for Voorburg, and Elenbaas turns to Klijnhans in hopes of breaking what is becoming another annoying partnership from Hermes’ point of view. Levitt on 63* now, Kaplan on 23*.

Comparative riches from Snoep’s eighth over, Fourie deciding to take him on and driving him cleanly through the covers. Bettelheim, too, opts for aggression, and nine come from the over. But overall Sparta are showing no sign of easing their grip. Umar Baker on from the Schollebos End.

That’s the one VRA needed. Singh into the attack, and he traps Minhas in front for a 43-ball 71. The bad news is that that brings Jonathan Vandiar to the crease.

Mahesh Hans into the attack from the City End, and Joseph Reddy now from the Chalet End. But Verhagen and Ingram are steadily retrieving Excelsior’s position after those two early wickets for Sayed.

Overdijk has Botha caught by Kloppenburg for 33, and Barresi joins Walbrugh in the middle.

Fifty for Levitt, made from 34 deliveries. Ekrami’s first over proves expensive, 14 coming from it as Voorburg push on.

Hake into the attack from the Equestrian Centre End for VRA, but after a tidy first over Minhas goes after his second, a six and back-to-back fours carrying him to a very rapid half-century. By the end of the over he’d gone to 56* from 31, and Punjab look on for a big total.

Fraser, Snoep and now Khalid Ahmadi are keeping Fourie and Bettelheim quiet at the Bermweg, with Snoep’s first five overs conceding just 7 runs.

Olivier Elenbaas gets the breakthrough at Westvliet, Gigani cutting him rather languidly to Dinant de Hommel at point. Gavin Kaplan in to join Levitt, who’s on 33*.

Lehaan Botha has been going after Leonard and Crowley; he’s gone to 29* from 24, with Walbrugh playing a lower-key role. A good recovery after the early wicket, in what is perhaps the day’s most significant match.

Another for Sayed, as Etman loses patience and tries to hit a lifting delivery over midwicket. Instead of which, the top edge flies through to the keeper, who appears to be Ben van der Merwe today. Lorenzo Ingram in at four.

Minhas has raced to 24* from 13, with Musa much more subdued at the other end. Fletcher has come in for some particularly heavy punishment.

A solid start by Levitt and Gigani takes the total to 30 halfway through the initial powerplay. Gigani marginally the more aggressive, with 16* from just 12 deliveries. Elenbaas, captaining today in the absence of the injured Braat, turns to Sam van Giezen now.

A steady start by Ryan Schierhout and Francois Fourie for VOC against Cameron Fraser and Martijn Snoep. But then disaster strikes, as Schierhout lobs the easiest of catches to Juandre Scheepers at shortish midwicket. He goes without scoring, and is succeeded by Taylor Bettelheim.

An early wicket at Craeyenhout as well: Reece Mason caught by Hidde Overdijk off Adam Leonard for 3.

A dramatic start at Thurlede, where Izhaan Sayed draws Derek Mitchell into edging his third delivery to keeper Mark Wolfe. After yesterday’s collapse there may be some worried faces in the Excelsior dugout as Roel Verhagen joins Tim Etman in the middle.

Ben Fletcher starts with a wide, Musa Ahmad sending the next delivery to the boundary. No further score from the over. Elijah Eales to bowl the second, initially to Shoaib Minhas.

The players are out in the middle at Westvliet, where Voorburg have won the toss and elected to bat. Levitt and Gigani open, Olivier Elenbaas starts from the Paddock End..

Mostly a day for fielding first, it seems, with Anis Raza inserting the hosts at Thurlede.

A friendly carrier-pigeon informs us that HCC have won the toss at Craeyenhout and put HBS in.

At the Bermweg Tim de Kok has won the toss for VOC and elected to have a bat. No change to either side, it seems.

And the prize for first up and running goes to . . . Punjab-Ghausia, who report that VRA have won the toss and invited the hosts to have a bat.

A leading edge from a rather half-hearted swipe from Singh off Nel goes high into the air and into the hands of Gigani at cover point. Henrico Venter the last man, but he holes out first ball, driving in the air to De Lange at long off. Voorburg win by 99 runs.

Another for Van Vliet: Klein doesn’t get hold of an attempted blow over midwicket, and holes out to Nota for 43. He’s furious, but that’s been a useful knock nonetheless. Boddendijk in to join Singh.

While that’s all been happening, Van Vliet has returned to remove Khan, who made a defiant 31 before edging him through to Croes. Klein is now on 43*, batting with Amrit Singh.

Only one ball required, as Patel slashes at a wideish delivery, the ball takes the edge and runs quickly to the third man fence. Wiggins ends on 56*, and HCC win by 4 wickets.

Singles indeed, five of them in a row – what we used to call a picket fence – off Kamal, and HCC need three off Sikander’s final over.

Patel drives Kamal through mid-off for four, and a cover drive by Wiggins off Sikander brings up his fifty. A hustled single brings Patel on strike, another brings up the 250 and reduces the ask to 12 off 15. Singles will do it now, if they can avoid too many dots. Eight needed of 12 now.

Four for Nashier off Ekrami, and then Shariz drives Van Dam square for the winning boundar, ending on 59*. VRA win by 4 wickets.

Just four singles off Sikander’s over, plus that wicket, and after running Kamal down to third man for four he goes for a massive heave, gets under it, and it falls inside the midwicket boundary and into the hands of Shahzad. Yash Patel in with 22 required off 20 deliveries.

Half-century for Shariz, and he’s on 55* with VRA now needing just six for victory.

Eight off Kamal’s over. Sikander Zulfiqar takes the ball himself with 32 required from five, and when Overdijk swings across the line his off stump is uprooted. Wiggins on 44*, Teun Kloppenburg in at seven.

They’re back again at Westvliet, Klein and Khan still chipping away at the deficit as De Lange and Nel take over for Voorburg.

Shahzad finishes his stint, having taken all four wickets to fall at a cost of just 26 runs, the last six of them coming from a meaty stroke from Overdijk off his final ball. 41 needed from six, with Wiggins on 35*. Kamal back from the Scoreboard End.

Statham switches to the City End, but Shariz takes a brace of twos and a square-cut four. And now VRA need just 27 more.

Wiggins brings up the 200 with a six off Tariq, and with Gorlee on 97* Shahzad returns once more. Two dots, and then he swings at a full delivery, is struck low on the pad, maybe on the foot, and the umpire’s finger absolutely shoots up. Gorlee has a good hard look at where his feet are, but he has to go, out for 97 and three short of what would have been a thoroughly-deserved second Topklasse hundred. Advantage Punjab, as Overdijk joins Wiggins.

But Shariz is still there, on 33* now, with Udit Nashier again providing outstanding support at the other end. Only 40 needed, with Hermes requiring four more wickets.

The umpires confer as the weather closes in, but they stay on, Zulfiqars operating from both ends as Saqib bowls the last of his ten. Just a single off it, leaving Gorlee on 95* with 71 required and ten overs left.

The interruption at Westvliet proves brief, so Klein and Khan are able to resume their damage-limitation exercise. That is, to be honest, the extent of the interest at this stage. And they’re off again . . .

Klijnhans back from the City End, and after a lot of faffing about Floyd belts his first delivery to deep mid-on, where Olivier Elenbaas drops back to take the catch. The game swings a little further Hermes’ way.

They’re still on at De Diepput, with Gorlee now on 85* and Wiggins on 12*. Even stevens at this point, you’d say, but the asking rate is close to eights.

With six down and 165 still needed, you have to think it’s now all about containing the damage to the NRR for HBS. Or it would be, were the rain now starting and the covers coming on. The DLS par score is 184 at this point, the livestream informs us, so as things stand the damage would be considerable.

Trouble for Hermes, as Braat, bowling just his third over, pulls up as he goes into his delivery stride and can’t finish the over. Debutant Rik van Dam finishes it off, but in a tight game the loss of Braat is significant, as much for his captaincy as his bowling.

Shahzad’s return, from the Scoreboard End, gets the breakthrough, as Banerjee goes down on one knee sweeping, and is leg-before for 41. Big wicket for Punjab but Wiggins is in to join Gorlee, who’s on 65*.

Levitt into the attack, and when Walbrugh, on 24, heaves his first delivery out in front of square, Van Vliet’s there to take the catch. And his next over De Villiers drives him straight to a strategically-placed Ryan Klein at short midwicket and goes for 18. Two balls later Lucas Del Bianco is trapped in front, and Levitt has three for 2 from 11 deliveries! Azzam Khan in to join Kyle Klein with HBS on the ropes, if not the canvas.

A century partnership between Gorlee and Banerjee now, brought up by a Gorlee edge to the third man boundary. But they all count, and he’s on 64*. Banerjee is coming into his own with 41*, and HCC need 125 off the last twenty.

Braat obliges, as Eales tries to swing him away wide of mid-on and is comprehensively bowled. Clayton Floyd in to join Shariz, who’s on 14*.

Olivier Elenbaas back from the City End, but VRA are now past halfway to their target with 28 overs remaining. Hermes need wickets, but Eales and Shariz are quietly building a useful stand.

Hundred up for HCC and fifty for Gorlee, who reaches the mark with a single off Saqib Zulfiqar. Time to start thinking equations: HCC need 159 off 26 overs, which should be gettable as long as they keep wickets in hand.

Drinks claim a wicket at Westvliet, although that doesn’t detract from bowler Nota, who takes Barresi’s pad and initiates an insistent appeal. The umpire thinks about it for quite a while, but eventually the dread finger goes up. HBS in trouble now, as De Villiers joins Walbrugh.

You have to say Hermes are offering us plenty of nostalgia today – the last over before drinks is bowled by Statham, relieved of his keeping duties and bowling in the top flight for the first time since 2015. It’s a tidy enough over, although he’s unable immediately to add to his 39 top-flight wickets. (Where else, BTW, would you get this stuff?) Eales and Shariz are toiling away, knowing that by any sane standard 166 ought to be well within reach. (Bertus points out that the Statham/Thampinayagam bowler/keeper combo must surely break an age record? I wonder who was keeping the last time Nolan Clarke bowled in the top flight?)

Alejo Nota replaces Van Vliet from the Pavilion End, Kaplan continuing from the other. Walbrugh and Barresi making haste slowly, needing to build a platform after the loss of those early wickets.

Gorlee effortlessly dismisses Kamal wide of mid-on for six – if anyone knows where the boundaries are at De Diepput it ought to be the HCC captain. His side could certainly do with a big innings here. Immediately, however, they take a drink.

Klijnhans on the from the City End, Smal decides to hit his second delivery over the top, and succeeds only in finding Ekrami at deepish mid-off. That wasn’t the plan at all, and Hermes are making a pretty good fist of defending 165. Shariz Ahmad joins Eales.

Kaplan into the attack for Voorburg, but it’s Van Vliet who gets the second, breaking through Mason’s defence and bowling him for 10. Another chase in early trouble, as Wesley Barresi joins Walbrugh. Runs on the board, son, runs on the board, as we wiseacres like to say.

Kamal into the attack now for Punjab, but Gorlee and Banerjee are building a little stability in the HCC reply. Sikander Zulfiqar takes over from the Van Hogenhoucklaan End.

And another one gone in the Bos: Prince makes a single and then goes back to Ekrami and spoons a simple catch to Braat, running in at shortish midwicket. Smal’s still there on 23*, but he needs someone to keep him company for a while. Elijah Eales might be the man.

Rasool hits successive boundaries off Ralph Elenbaas, but the bowler has his revenge when the VRA opener makes to drive square and is caught low down by Klijnhans at point. Demari Prince in at four.

A wicket at Westvliet as I was wandering down memory lane: Kingma has Botha in two minds, and he edges through to Croes. Much celebration as Botha departs for 4. Walbrugh the new man.

Another for Shahzad, as McInerney goes back to cut, edges, and Shinwari takes a very smart catch indeed. McInerney gone for 26, and young Shirsak Banerjee joins Gorlee.

Keeping wicket for Hermes today, 64-year-old Danny Thampinayagam doesn’t look a kilo heavier than he was when I first saw him wearing the gloves for VRA back in 1995. He had already played 214 of his 272 top-flight games when Shariz Ahmad, who dismissed him earlier was born, and when he appeared in the Topklasse for the last time before today, the young wrist spinner was just eight. With Nick Statham at slip, their combined ages are no less than 113. Hard to credit, really. By the bye, Rasool and Smal have taken the total along to 34 . . .

McInerney pulls Suleiman Tariq over square leg for six, then hits him in the same direction for four. Chasing the biggest total of the day, HCC need a couple of big contributions from their top order, and preferably at least one significant partnership, something they’ve been short on this season.

Kingma and Van Vliet take the new ball against Mason and Botha. A wide apiece, and then Botha edges Van Vliet over slip and down to the third man boundary. Kingma to continue from the Paddock End.

Not a great start for VRA in the Bos, either, as Olivier Elenbaas has Singh caught by Ostling without scoring off the final delivery of a maiden opening over. Johan Smal in to join Shirase Rasool.

HCC have started their chase at De Diepput, and with Khurram Shahzad starting with his off-breaks from the Van Hogenhoucklaan End, it’s a disastrous beginning, as Tonny Staal hammers the first ball he receives down the throat of Musa Ahmad at long on. They could have done without that, as Boris Gorlee joins Conor McInerney at the crease.

Mudford belts Kothari for back-to-back sixes to bring Sparta to the brink, and then takes a single, compensation for not finding the boundary, to level the scores. And keep the strike, on 47*. Anticlimactically, Hans’s first delivery is a leg-side wide, and Sparta win by 10 wickets.

Just 32 needed for Sparta now, and no wicket down despite Raza having tried six of his bowlers. Mudford and Ferguson both on 23*.

Meanwhile at Westvliet HBS are only now finished bowling their fifty, and 262 will be their target too. Croes finally fell for a fine 79, bowled by Kyle Klein, who picks up a couple more at the death to finish with figures of 3-28.

A rapid collapse here at the Bos as VRA finally get into the soft underbelly of this half-strength Hermes side. A brace for Shariz Ahmad and Fletcher finishes with 4-42 as the tail gives way, 165 all out with one ball left.

They’re back on at Bermweg meanwhile, Mudford and Ferguson opening. Sayed and van der Merwe share the new ball.

Wickets continue to come at de Diepput, but Shinwari’s kept his head to do a fine job at the death under the circumstances. He’s left unbeaten on 32 off 28 as the final wicket falls with one ball left unused.

Klein falls for 68 heaving Bonddendijk away square but picking out the man on the rope, Molenaar joins Croes, who rbings up his fifty running the ball down to deep third for one.

Singh brings back Fletcher to press the advantage, and with immediate success. Has Ralph Elenbaas caught behind off the last ball of the 44th, then cleans up Olivier with the last ball of the 46th. Van Dam and Ekrami in..

Three for Ralston as he bowls Fourie for 26, but the game’s long gone. McKenzie joins Betelheim and the pair finish things off, McKenzie sealing the win pulling Ralston hard over square for six, and it’s all over before lunch. VOC win by 7 wickets. That was not close.

HCC fighting back at de Diepput, Riaz follows Saqib to the pavilion in quick time as he holes out to deep square off Crowley, who follows it up with another in his next over, Sikander top-edging behind on the cut. And a real collapse now as Leijer has Burhan Niaz caught deep midwicket. Punjab suddenly seven down, Shinwari and Shahzad in.

VRA still looking for a way past this obstinate fourth wicket partnership meanwhile, Floyd and Eales operating for the hosts but Elenbaas and Braat haven’t taken any risks yet. Or rather they hadn’t, on 30* off 95 Elenbaas showing signs of wanting to kick on but has been stymied by a series of slowish yorkers from Eales that he can’t get away. Finally gets bat on one and drives low and straight, but too straight and it clatters into the non-strikers’stumps. And that’s the breakthrough the hosts were looking for! Seems Eales got a finger on it on the way through, Braat is out of his ground and run out for 44. Ralph Elenbaas to the middle to join his brother.

Ralston has a second as Schiehout wis well held by Rens van Troost at midwicket off a miscued pull, but this game’s only going one way. Bettelheim in to join Fourie, who’s on 25* on 22 and batting like he has somewhere else to be.

Croes and Klein still ticking along nicely at Westvliet, the latter brings up his fifty pushing de Villiers out toward long on off the back foot for two. Croes still with him, on to 39* now as he drives Kyle Klein past mid off for four.

Ahmadi meanwhile has wrapped up the ACC innings, Hans shanking one up toward extra cover and caught for a ten-ball duck. ACC all out for 81.

Zulfiqar and Riaz turn up the aggression, the latter taking McInerney for three consecutive sixes in the 40th, but McInerney strikes back two balls later as Zulfiqar skips down, misses and is stumped for a run-a-ball 47. Sikander in, Riaz on 78*.

Fifty partnership for Braat and Elenbaas here at the Bos, theyll need to start thinking about acceleration at some point though. Eales returns.

They’re back on for a quick session before lunch at Hazelaarweg, Excelsior’s total has been nudgedup by a few runs it seems so VOC are chasing 73 to win. Tim de Kok opens with Fourie, and the VOC captain gets off the mark driving Ralston through the covers for four, but edges through to the keeper next ball. Schierhout at three and looks in a hurry, back to back fours off Ralston carving over backward point and then going hard over midwicket. Match may not make it as far as Lunch at this rate.

Fraser keeps the wickets coming at Bermweg, has Sayed coaught behind off an inside edge for 35, clean bowls Wolfe, then another inside edge through to Mudford does for Kumar. Hans and Reddy last pair.

150 up for Punjab too, Saqib takes them past the milestone slog-sweeping McInereney hard over square for six two balls after drinks.

Croes and Klein motoring along nicely for the hosts, the latter brings up the 150 punching de Villiers back down the ground for one. He’s into the 30s at better than a run a ball, Croes on 25 off 25.

Here at the Bos meanwhile Braat and Elenbaas are grinding out a partnership, just the one boundary between them so far – a big six for Braat over long on off Hake a few overs back. Elenbaas brings up the hundred for Hermes pushing Singh out to long on for a single. Slow going but not much batting to come so they’re happy to build for now.

The slide continues for Excelsior, Schewe sells Kroesen a dummy and the latter is run out by Harhangi’s direct hit, then Schierhout bags his fourth as Rens van Troost is bowledoff his pads. And in a flash it’s all over. Ralston nicks behind, four balls later last man Blankenstein spoons up a simple return catch. Schierhout receives it gratefully to finish with 6-4 in 8 overs, Excelsior all out for 68.

Sayed playing a lone hand for ACC at the minute, he’s into the thirties but has lost another partner, Max Hoornweg extracting a big top edge as Potdar looks to put him away through the leg side and it comes down safely for Mudford. Kumar in.

Azzam Khan into the attack and has Gigani caught in the deep on the leg side, then Kyle Klein strikes from the other end, Kaplan miscuing a hook and caught behind square. Croes in with Ryan Klein now.

Hundred up for Punjab as Riaz works Wiggins into the on side for one, but Musa falls next ball feathering an inside edge behind, gone for 35. Saqib Zulfiqar in.

Excelsior in deep trouble too, Schierhout into the attack and the offspinner removes the two left handers in swift succession, Lubbers prodding forward and edging to slip, then Ingram takes on on the pads in front missing the sweep. And as I type he bags a third, Heinsbroek takes a knee and misses, through him into the woodwork. Schewe abnd Luuk Kroesen in the middle now.

Turmaine on after drinks and another big wicket as he has Klijnhans LBW for 20. Braat in with his team in trouble again, He’ll need to bat time if this is going to be competitive. Hermes have a very long tail today…

Khalid Ahmadi strikes in comic fashion, Sheena deploys an extravagant leave and loses his middle stump. van der Merwe joins Sayed. But not for long, Big leading edge off Max Hoornweg held in the off side, ACC in freefall again. Potdar in.

Double change at Westvliet too, Boddendijk and Venter now for the Crows. Hasn’t brought a breakthrough yet though, Kaplan and Gigani making steady progress.

Double change at de Diepput brings Overdijk and Leijer into the attack, and the latter bags the big wickets of Vandiar in his second over, clean bowled for 20. Riaz in.

Fletcher finds the first at the Bos, straightening from an off stump line to slice through Ostling’s defences into the stumps. Big wicket that. CP Klijnhans joins Statham. But the partnership doesn’t last long, Eales has Statham chasing a wide one and cutting straight to point. Oli Elenbaas at four, wielding Heino Kuhn’s bat we’re told.

ACC three down too, Fraser has Raza LBW in the fifth, then Snope has Rahil Ahmed caught down leg in the next. Sayed and Sheena in.

Excelsior lose another meanwhile, McKenzie has Mitchell caught behind. Lubbers in.

First down at de Diepput, as Minhs, having carved Crowley for six over point the previous ball, holes out to deep midwicket for 18. Vandiar in with Musa now.

No drama at Westvliet thus far, Gigani opening with the Levitt, the latter in need of a score you’d have to say given the season he’s had. Oh. Well he won’t be getting one today. Kyle Klein cleans him up for 12 fifth ball of the sixth. Kaplan in.

Excelsior in early trouble meanwhile, McKenzie has Etman edging a back-of-a-length ball to slip first over, then Arnav Jain has Verhagen plumb in the next. Mitchell and Ingram together now looking to rebuild.

Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas have gotten Punjab off to a brisk start at de Diepput meanwhile, Crowley and Leonard open the bowling for the hosts..

First wicket of the day falls at Bermweg, Fraser has Kothari pinned in front third ball. A couple of balls later he’s convinced he has Raza caught down leg but the umpire reckon’s it’s just clipped the pad. Rahil Ahmed at the other end, and Snoep shares the new ball.

Not seen a team-sheet for the hosts yet but from what’s warming up they look largely unchanged. Nidamanuru still out injured of course, though Smal is back. Hermes on the other hand are almost unrecognisable. No Doyle-Calle of course, Dutt away at the Gt20, Woermeijer on holiday we’re told, no Sam van Giezen either with the twos having a rather more pressing late season to attend to. Peck, van Dam, de Hommel in, and none other than Dani Thampinayagam making a return to the Bos in Sky Blue. Ostling and Statham opening, Fletcher takes the new ball. Ostling finds the rope fifth ball glancing fine off the hip. Eales from the other end.

Snoep dissents, wins the toss and puts ACC in to bat.

No deviation from the bat-first consensus at de Diepput. Punjab win the tossa and will set a score.

Voorburg win the toss at Westvliet, and Noah Cores reckons it’s a bat-first day too.

Hermes win the toss here at the Bos and will bat.

Excelsior win the toss at Hazelaarweg and elect to bat first we hear.