Topklasse Live | T20 Round 2 | As it Happened

Nine come from Azzam Khan’s next over, and VOC need 11 from 12. Mason bowls the penultimate one, and after conceding five he traps Upadhyaya in front for 11. Hoseinbaks takes two, and there are three needed off the last. Vink to bowl it. A dot, then Jain finishes it with a four, ending on 28*. Another valiant defeat for HBS, but VOC win by 3 wickets.

There’s one, anyway! Schoonheim caught by De Mey off Reece Mason for 27. Jain’s still there, on 19*.

They’re accelerating towards their target now, not dramatically, but enough to settle the issue with room to spare. Unless, of course, HBS can engineer a breakthrough or three.

HBS don’t have a lot to play with, and Schoonheim and Arnav Jain are gradually taking the game away from them. 45 needed off seven overs.

But Jelte Schoonheim mounts a counter-attack, hitting a couple of boundaries and moving quickly to 13*. Seems a big score in the present context . . .  

Later in that same Vink over, Mussayab Jamil is run out for 1. Tim de Kok in at five; VOC need him to steady the ship. Quickly off the mark with a boundary.

Ferdi Vink marks his return to the colours by getting Van Wingerden, caught by Boddendijk without scoring. Lane Berry joins Fourie.

VOC have started their reply, Francois Fourie and Siebe van Wingerden opening and Julian de Mey bowling the first over.

If you’re of the better-late-than-never persuasion, you’ll be pleased to hear that HBS have partially recovered from a perilous 56 for five, thanks to a stand of 48 between Benno Boddendijk and Martijn Scholte. But then Asief Hoseinbaks took a hand, cleaning up the lower order, and the Crows were all out for 114. In 20.1 overs, allegedly, but I trust the umpires better than that.

We’d love to be able to bring you more, we really, really would. But I’m afraid the technology is failing us. More updates as soon as we can.

Mason hits three successive fours off Van Wingerden, but then he’s caught by Upadhyaya and departs for a 13-ball 22. Enter Tayo Walbrugh.

Siebe van Wingerden takes the first over, bowling initially to Reece Mason, with Tim Drummond at the other end. A single apiece, then Mason hits the first boundary of the game. Arnav Jain from the other end.

HBS have won the toss and elected to bat.

VOC make two changes from the side that played yesterday, Rohan Malik and Arthur Koppejan making way for Arnav Jain and Jelte Schoonheim. The HBS changes are perhaps more significant: Ferdi Vink and Navjit Singh play for the first time this season, with Tim Drummond returning as well. Manjinder Singh, Joris van Oosterom and Leon Stadhouder are the three who miss out.

Faisan Bashir shows a lot of determination, his second over conceding just four. NRR might well be important when we get to this competition’s denouement, and every ball that Sparta can extend this game by may well prove to matter. Musa reaches fifty off Ivo Hoornweg’s first delivery, and it’s De Lange who finishes it, driving the same bowler through extra cover for four. Musa ends on 52*, from 45 deliveries, and Voorburg win by eight wickets.

Just when it seemed to be all over, Kulkarni fails to get over a cover drive, and the ball flies to Kroesen.  He departs for a 33-ball 42, and it’s left to Floris de Lange to support Musa, who’s now on 44*.

Kulkarni is making the most of this opportunity, having spent most of his season so far in Voorburg’s seconds. Snoep back from the Pavilion End, and he almost gets a breakthrough as Musa drives uppishly to cover. But 12 come from the over, and by the end of Tom Hoornweg’s next the stand’s worth 74. Musa on 42* from 34, Kulkarni 36* from 30.   

Joost Kroesen into the attack, nine coming from his first over despite an absence of boundaries. Spin from both ends, with Manminder Singh on at the Paddock End. His first’s pretty messy, including five wides, 15 off it, and at the halfway point Voorburg are well on their way to their target. Musa’s on 23* at a run a ball, Kulkarni on 21* from 17.  

Bukhari finishes with none for 16 from his four overs, exemplary stuff but probably not enough in the context. Kulkarni is keen to get on with it, swatting Clark through mid-on for four. Some good running with Musa as well, although Kulkarni has to dive full length to make his ground as they push for a second to backward square.

Hints of the Bukhari of old, albeit off a shorter run, but all the wiles are still there. He’s missing Ahsan Malik at the other end, though, and one senses that wickets are more likely to come from batters’ mistakes than from any devastating bowling from Sparta. And the truth is that Voorburg just don’t need to take any risks. The mistake does come, though, in the form of a mix-up as De Leede, having made 19 at a run a ball, looks for a single, is sent back, and fails to get there in time. He seemed to think he’s got his bat down, but in the end he has to leave. Nirav Kulkarni in at three.

A quiet start, but Voorburg have no need to rush, and Sparta desperately need early wickets. But De Leede stands tall and drives Snoep’s final delivery sweetly through mid-off for the first boundary of the innings. Bukhari’s bowling with a deal more life now he’s got the new ball, and he was distinctly interested when he thought Musa might have got an edge through to Tarr; the keeper, though, indicates it didn’t carry. De Leede eases Snoep through the on side for another boundary, and with ten off the over in total Voorburg are off to a decent start.

Mudassar Bukhari starts from the Pavilion End, bowling to Musa Ahmad and Stijn de Leede. Snoep bowls the first over from the Paddock End.

Philippe Boissevain back to trap Bukhari in front for 37. Just bits and pieces for Snoep and Bashir, and in the final over Snoep is bowled by Sajjad Kamal as he tries to give himself room to hit a straight delivery. Tom Hoornweg in for the last four balls, but they can only manage four more singles. They will, as they say, have to bowl very well to give themselves a chance.

Tom de Leede (it’s a while since we’ve seen ‘T de Leede’ in a scorecard) catches Kroesen off Musa for 16, and then Manminder Singh is caught by Philippe Boissevain off Van Vliet. Snoep joins Bukhari, but Sparta are some way short of where they’d want to be with three overs left.

It transpires that my interpretation of the score-less pictures was incorrect: the stand of 174 between Walbrugh and Khan was in vain, as they fell just two runs short in their chase. Walbrugh ended on 108* from 70 deliveries and Khan on 50* from 45, but that will be scant consolation. ACC won by 2 runs.

Tom de Leede (it’s a while since we’ve seen ‘T de Leede’ in a scorecard) catches Kroesen off Musa for 16, and then Manminder Singh is caught by Philippe Boissevain off Van Vliet. Snoep joins Bukhari, but Sparta are some way short of where they’d want to be with three overs left.

Kroesen starts positively, pushing the ball about to keep the scoreboard moving. No boundary since Ferguson’s dismissal, but Bukhari may be about ready to launch.

Bukhari’s now beginning to settle to the task, two boundaries taking him closer to a run a ball. Ferguson had also found the boundary twice, but he’s just been stumped by Cedric de Lange off Musa for 16, bringing Joost Kroesen to the crease.

It’s all over at ‘t Loopveld, and there’s a general shaking of hands and applause for Walbrugh and Khan, who when all’s said and done shared a truly terrific partnership. We hope to have more detail in due course, but HBS won, probably by eight wickets.

At Westvliet, meanwhile, Philippe Boissevain has removed both Tarr, caught by Stef Mulder for 4, and Clark, caught by Cedric de Lange for 9. Ferguson’s now in with Bukhari, who has an uncharacteristically staid 9 from 20 deliveries. Ferguson, on the other hand, has 12 from five.

Whether or not it was the five penalty runs wot done it, the online scoring at ‘t Loopveld has gone into meltdown, but we can tell you that Walbrugh and Khan appear to still be there, and runs are still coming fairly freely. It’s likely to be a tight finish, though, and we can only apologise for not being able to be more precise.

Musa’s bowled Latif for 16, and Tarr is now in the middle with Bukhari. Mees van Vliet and Philippe Boissevain into the attack.

To Azzam Khan’s great credit he’s keeping pace with Walbrugh, and the partnership’s now worth 94. That should include five penalty runs when the ball eludes the keeper and bounces off the helmet behind him; a good deal of deliberation and argy-bargy, but there’s a clear signal from the umpire, which does not seem to have been reversed. Those runs are not yet apparent in the online score, however.

At Westvliet Snoep has called correctly for the day’s final chapter, and again elected to bat. Bukhari and Latif again, facing Musa Ahmad. They’ve lost in the final over twice so far; can they break that pattern this time?

Master gets some of the same treatment from Walbrugh, but when Knoll returns from the Uilenstede End he restricts the scoring to four singles, which definitely counts as a result. HBS still in touch at the halfway point, but they’ll need 120 off the last ten.

Tibo Balk and Zinesh Master into the attack for ACC, but Walbrugh and Khan are starting a create a little momentum. One reflects that Topklasse cricket is starting to resemble decent-standard schools cricket in some places. That is, on the whole, probably a good thing. (Discuss.)  But when Walbrugh gets one in the slot from Balk he smacks it away over midwicket for six, then wanders away for a drink as the search party disappears into the undergrowth. When they return he does it again, this time for four. That was a fairly unequal battle, it has to be said.

Mason swings across the line at Chris Knoll and the stumps are scattered. His 23 from 11 has given HBS some momentum, but barring a big, big knock from Walbrugh it seems unlikely to be enough. Azzam Khan in at four.

Snoep returns to bowl the penultimate over, and Patel skies him to Ferguson in the covers. Crowley joins Overdijk with 13 needed from 10, and two wickets in the over as Crowley gets a big edge through to Tarr behind the stumps. 10 needed from 7 as Thijs Vrolijk comes to the crease. Overdijk’s on strike for the last, belting Clark’s first delivery over long on for six, then driving a full toss through extra cover for the winning boundary. He finishes on 42* from 29 and HCC win by 3 wickets with three deliveries to spare.

An immediate breakthrough for ACC as Manjinder Singh top-edges Raza and is caught by Knoll at fly slip. Walbrugh in at three, but it’s Reece Mason who goes on the attack, despatching Reddy through midwicket for four, then over square leg for six and over wide long on for another.

Bukhari into the attack, and Overdijk goes after him, hitting his first two deliveries for four. 11 off his over, and HCC edge the asking rate downwards. Eight off Manminder Singh’s last, and gradually the Lions are taking back control. 11 off Clark’s next, and the equation’s 14 off 12.

Kroesen finishes a very good spell indeed: two for 16 from his four, including the wicket of Vandiar. You can’t complain about that! Then Manminder Singh gets Doram LBW sweeping; he has a good hard look at his position before he uncoils and departs, but he has to go. As long as Hidde Overdijk’s there, now joined by Yash Patel, HCC are in with a good chance. 44 needed from 30 balls.

Raza and Kumar keep the momentum going, until Manjinder Singh has the latter caught by Reece Mason for a 9-ball 19. Mark Wolfe in to join Raza, who goes on to 54* from 35 by the end of the innings. That’s a big total at ‘t Loopveld!

Massive wicket for Kroesen: Vandiar tries to put him away over midwicket, but it’s too full to hit, and it crashes into the stumps. 48 from 33 for Vandiar, and that’s the cue for a drink.

And Visée returns to have Hobson caught, again by De Mey, for 71, from just 40 balls. Raza’s on 27*. Het Loopveld’s not generally a high-scoring ground, but ACC should be on for a pretty big total here.

Back-to-back fours for Vandiar off Tom Hoornweg, but Joost Kroesen manages to restrict the scoring to four singles when he replaces him. That counts as a win at this stage, but HCC would be favourites to retain their perfect record from here. And then Clark gets the breakthrough, Alphonse slog-sweeping to Bukhari at deep square leg and departing for 25. Teun Kloppenburg in at three.

Hobson’s gone past fifty, on 53* now from just 32 deliveries. Anis Raza currently keeping him company as HBS search for a much-needed breakthrough.

Alphonse and especially Vandiar are starting to take control, although Snoep is still plugging away from the Paddock End. Vandiar’s finding the gaps at regular intervals, although he can’t take advantage of the free hit when Snoep oversteps. He’s on 34* from 19, Alphonse on 13* from 12. Ominous for Sparta.

No further success for HBS as yet, but Knoll has moved on to 48 . . . and as I write that, young Joris van Oosterom has him caught by Tayo Walbrugh. Hobson’s on 30*.

They’re back out at Westvliet, Joost-Martijn Snoep leading from the front from the Paddock End. Alphonse takes strike as usual, his partner this time Jonathan Vandiar. Decent first over, he even manages to hurry Vandiar with a lifting delivery outside off. Faisan Bashir from the Pavilion End.

Yoran Visée has Potdar caught by De Mey in the second over, and Hobson’s back out there to join Knoll. The HBS side is, if anything, even younger this week than it was last, but ACC are pretty youthful as well. It’s Knoll who’s doing the damage at the moment, though: 25* from 10 deliveries is his tally.

Charumbira gets Clark for 62, caught at long on by Doram; he needed only 36 balls to get them. Joost Kroesen in with ten balls left in the innings. Hidde Overdijk, who went sprawling in his previous over and got up to carry on gamely, bowls the last. He cuts out the boundaries, but with some positive running they still get twelve off the over. That’s probably just about par today, but maybe a little short of where Sparta would have liked to be after Tarr and Clark gave them such a good platform.

At ‘t Loopveld, HBS have won the toss and invited their hosts to have a bat. Potdar opens with Knoll this time, just one off De Mey’s initial over.

Charumbira back into the attack, and he gets Tarr, who hits him back over his head but down the throat of Jan-Wieger Overdijk at long off. He made 46. ‘Jug avoidance’, that used to be called, when I was scoring in Scotland, where anyone who made fifty was expected to buy a jug of beer. Seems a very long time ago. Then again, I suppose it was a very long time ago . . .  Back at Westvliet, Ferguson has started briskly, while Clark is on 49*, from just 29 deliveries.

Patel gets his full quota of overs, Clark lifting him over cow off the first ball of his last. 16 in all from it, and Sparta have a very good platform for the final charge. Tarr on 44*, Clark on 41*.

Bukhari soon followed, caught by Yash Patel at deep cover off Charumbira for 6, but Tarr and Will Clark are building a useful partnership.  No wild hitting, but they’re keeping the scoreboard moving. 

A direct hit from mid-off does for Hobson, trying to get back on strike, and he goes for a 27-ball 38. That’s the end of it, really: Mishra and Joseph Reddy manage to take ten off Fletcher’s last, but VOC win by 9 runs.

Perhaps not: Fletcher gets Kumar, who can’t get all of lofted drive and is caught by Jamil at mid-off for 21. Debutant (and forgive me if I add, former Qui Vive Cub) Arnav Mishra in to join Hobson. 26 needed off 12.

Bukhari and Mamoon Latif open for Sparta, and Latif’s run out off the last ball of Hidde Overdijk’s opening over. Garnett Tarr in at three, and he quickly takes a liking to Jan-Wieger Overdijk, hitting him for three boundaries.  

Hobson and Kumar still there, but they need 47 from 24, and they will need to find a Zulfiqarian change of gear if they’re to pull that off. Van Wingerden and Jamil both bowled out, though, and Hoseinbaks and Upadhyaya each have one left. Fletcher has two. Will VOC need to find a sixth bowler?

At Westvliet, Sparta have won the toss and elected to bat in their game against HCC. No Ali Raza in the Sparta line-up today, it seems.

Jamil gets Potdar, who hits him straight to Lane Berry at cow corner (see a pattern here?) and departs for 17. Then, for variation, Anis Raza top-edges Hoseinbaks to fine leg, where Fourie takes the catch. Aryan Kumar in to join Hobson, who’s on 15*.

Wegener’s run out by Upadhyaya for 45, Hobson joins Potdar, and at the halfway point ACC still need 94 for victory.

Ten off the Etman over, although he does get Shafiq with his final delivery. Sikander, though, blasts Van Troost over cow off the first ball of the last, then tucks the ball to midwicket to level the scores. And it’s left to Aaliyan Mahmood to play the ball through the gully for the boundary which gives Punjab the points. Sikander finishes on 71* from 45. Punjab win by four wickets.

Wegener’s run out by Upadhyaya for 45, Hobson joins Potdar, and at the halfway point ACC still need 94 for victory.

Three fours off Ingram take Rehmat to fifty, his first of the summer, but then Heggelman gets him, well caught by Verhagen at long off as he tries to put him out of the ground again. Shafiq in, and Punjab need 18 off 12.

Musa and De Leede are there to the end, but the task is just too great. Musa finishes with 64* from 60 deliveries, but with Doram and Patient Charumbira the most economical HCC’s bowlers hold it together, and HCC win by (we think) 22 runs.

Hidde Overdijk returns to get Philippe Boissevain caught behind by Alphonse for 11. Stijn de Leede in to join Musa, but the overs are running away like sand through an hourglass. 46 needed off 18.

Knoll’s gone, lofting Van Wingerden straight to Fletcher at mid-off. Shreyas Potdar in at three, with Wegener still finding the boundary on a regular basis.

Punjab also have an uphill battle, needing 83 off seven. But Sikander’s on 38*, and he’s their best chance. Ingram, Heggelman and Etman all have two overs left, Baker three.

Voorburg now need 56 from five, we believe. Musa’s 43* has come at a run a ball, and he’ll need to go up a gear or two if his side are to haul this one out of the fire.

ACC have started their chase, Fergus Wegener and Chris Knoll (recalled to the colours today) facing Siebe van Wingerden and Pierce Fletcher. Wegener takes a boundary off each of them to give his side a decent start.

Big wicket for Rens van Troost, as Minhas lofts him away towards cow corner and Niels Etman’s under it. He made 41 from 28, and Rehmat Zulfiqar joins Sikander, now on 29*.

Boissevain gone, bowled by Doram for five as he swings rather desperately across the line. You miss, I hit. His brother Philippe succeeds him.

We’re told that HCC set Voorburg a target of 154, Gorlee having made a half-century, Musa and Kulkarni added 60 for the second wicket before Kulkarni was run out for 30, and Laurens Boissevain has joined the skipper in the middle. Voorburg are starting to run out of overs, though.

Another wicket at the Zomercomplex: Asad Zulfiqar caught by Baker off Niels Etman without scoring. Sikander Zulfiqar joins Minhas to attempt the rescue operation, quickly hitting four fours.

Mussayab Jamil and Ramdas Upadhyaya have put together a very useful partnership at Het Loopveld, putting on 61 for the fifth wicket before Jamil’s run out for 35. Asief Hoseinbaks joins Upadhyaya for the final over, but Tibo Balk gets him, and they’re only able to add four off it.