Topklasse T20 Live | Round 2 | As it Happened

Eales steps out to launch Ekrami over long off for six to level the scores, then slotting a full toss for four though extra two balls later to seal the win. He finishes unbeaten on 36 as VRA win by 5 wickets..

Dutt back for his last, Ealaes and Shariz see him off for a three run over. Eales picks his moment in the next to put Elenbaas a long way back over cow, VRA walking it home now.

Dutt gets Prince LBW, Shariz Ahmad in. Woermeijer into the attack, gets slog-swept for six over backward square, but then has Nidamanuru caught midwicket three balls later. Floyd in, and Floyd out, clean bowled Ekrami in the next over. VRA risk frittering away a winning position here as Eales comes to the crease.

Ekrami and Jabarkhil had slammed on the brakes since the Singh wicket, Prince especially struggling to time the ball, but Nidamamnuru finally gets one out of the screws in the 10th, lofting Ekrami over long off for six. Prince seems to take the cue, then a knee to slog-sweep Ekrami over the on side for his first boundary. Brief pause then, but VRA still well on top and back motoring toward the win. Dutt returns.

Singh continues his bullying of Braat, but is undone flashing at a wide one and gets a feather edge through to Statham and goes for 43. Prince joins Nidamanuru, hundred comes up in seven. It is cold and dark.

Rasool takes Dutt for two sixes over the on side, then an insulting shot really, a wristy put for four straight. Four wides follow before Dutt has his revenge, spearing an arm ball into the stumps. Nidamanuru in.

Rasool slog sweeps Dutt for six of his own, then Singh gets after Elenbaas next over, twice over square for six, then a straight lofted drive and holds the pose, brutal.

And we’re back, tight first over from Oli Elenbaas is spoiled at the end when Rasool takes one off the hip and muscles a six over the on side. Dutt from the other end and swept hard for six first ball by Singh. Ball hunt costs us time we don’t have, five overs required for a result of course, really is very dark already…

Eales gives up just five off the last, 174 will be the target if we get the full 20 overs in the gathering gloom…

Braat takes two more sixes off Singh, flat batted over the on side and then more slot straight. Singh has the last laugh though as a slow bouncer on leg is hooked round to Rasool at backward square, Braat goes for a well-made 56 off 30. Two balls later Elenbaas carves a wide short one to deep backward point, Statham and Woermeijer in in with one to come.

Braat is warming to his work, served two in the slot first up by Singh and puts them away straight for back to back sixes. He’s on 43* off 35 now, Hermes on for a solid score again, albeit well shy of their season average…

Floyd gets Oli Elenbaas LBW, to be replaced by his brother, but Braat is seeing it well now. Takes 10 off Shariz in the 14th then twice launches Floyd out of the ground in the next. He’s on 28 off 17 now. Eales into the attack. Should say it’s getting very dark out there, hard to imaging we’ll still be playing in 90 minute’s time.

Ostling gets a bit too cute, across his stumps looking to Scoop Singh over fine leg but ends up dinking a catch through to Prince behind the stumps. Braat joins Elenbaas.

VRA have dragged back the scoring and Fletcher profits from the pressure, Klijnhans cutting hard and high to Singh at deep cover. Elenbaas in, it’s drizzling and blowing hard. Do not come watch it is horrible here.

Oh they’ve called it a de Diepput meanwhile, HCC win by 47 runs on DLS.

VRA have dragged back the scoring and Fletcher profits from the pressure, Klijnhans cutting hard and high to Singh at deep cover. Elenbaas in, it’s drizzling and blowing hard. Do not come watch it is horrible here.

A brisk start for Hermes, but Eales gets the big wicket in the 5th, dug in short on leg and DDC hooks straight to Fletcher at fine leg. Next over Dutt goes pushing a return catch to Singh. Ostling joins Klijnhans.

About ready to get started on the day’s final fixture, VRA win the toss and invite Hermes to bat again. Brave move.

That leaves HCC-Excelsior as the last going concern of the afternoon, but that too looks like it’s heading for a blow-out. Excelsior have collapse from 40 without loss to 81-6. Lubbers and Ralston in, Excelsior are up with the rate but there’s not much batting to come. And as I type Lubbers is caught off Wiggins, Excelsior all at sea as the rain arrives.

Niels Woermeijer into the attack an proves a masterstroke. Bages three in his first over to see Sparta slump to 70 all out. Declining to enforce the follow-on, Hermes win by 201 runs.

Hoseinbaks wraps things up, pinning Sherzad LBW on the back foot and then taking Kers’ off-stump four balls later to finish with figures of 6-10 in 3.5 as VOC win by 167 runs.

Musa holes out to deep square off Levitt 8 runs short of a well-deserved ton, but he’s already won the game for Punjab. Smair Butt joins Shinwari for the last rites, and the pair seal a thumping win for the hosts as Punjab win by 8 wickets with 7.5 overs to spare.

Salland slumping to another heavy defeat at Hazelaarweg, Hoseinbaks has four, nobody but the openers managed double figures so far…

Overdijk breaks a brisk opening stand at 40 holding on to a return catch off Verhagen’s leading edge, Ingram joins Etman and ups the pace, taking consecutive boundaries of Floris de Lange (the left arm seamer, rather than VCC’s leggie of the same name). Excelsior well on track after the powerplay..

Musa Ahmad is in a hurry it seems. He’s double the score in the space of three overs and is now on 82* off 34. This won’t take long at this rate.

Sparta likewise stumbling out of the gate, Ferguson, Martina and Mudford all back in the lack of a shed. Ferguson run out, Martina bowled Elenbaas and Mudford caufght mid-on off Dutt. Clarke and Balwantsingh in. And as I type Elennbaas cleans up Clarke as he swipes across a straight one. Scheepers in.

Salland going nowhere fast at Hazelaarweg. Arnav Jain has Ganesan bowled round his legs on the sweep, then Hoseinbaks strikes with his first ball bowling Piyaranga as he backs away. Three balls later and Usmanzai chips to mid off. Pruss in with Maciavello.

Musa and Minhas have taken Punjab swiftly past fifty, but van Vliet finally gets the breakthrough. Having been carved over backward point for six the ball before, he takes Minhas’ off stump to break the partnership. Shinwari in.

HCC meanwhile have musceld their way to a solid total at de Diepput, thanks in large part to some late hitting from Overdijk and Crowley.

Braat spends the last over stranded at the non-strikers on 44* as Ahmadi picks up two consolation wickets, but Hermes have racked up a titanic 271-6 which even on this small ground is surely beyond chasing.

Back at the Zomercomplex Punjab have started a more manageable chase, Musa Ahmad and Shoaib Minhas opening and off at a canter. Van Vliet and Engelbrecht open the bowling but they’ve given up 32 between them off the first 3.

They’re back on at Hazelaarweg, Salland in pursuit of 224 to win. Ganesan and Piyaranga opening three off the first bowled by Arnav Jain, and his younger brother Aaditt shares the new ball.

The fireworks has caught the notice of the VRA side, who turn up at the boundary to watch the final few overs, and DDC promptly gets out ramping Khaled Ahmadi down fine leg’s throat. He finishes on a remarkable 133 off 50-something. Braat takes over the hitting, pulling high over square for six two balls later.

Engelbrecht is bowled by Niaz for 52 before then end, but he’s got VCC something to bowl at at least. They struggle to 152-9, usually well below par at the Zomercomplex but still something on the board.

McKenzie goes to fifty stroking Usmanzai out to long off for one, but is caught behind off Pruss courtesy a juggled catch behind the wicket next over. De Kok makes good use of the final few overs though, clubbing 40* off 21 to take his side to an imposing 223-4 at the break.

Gorlee is bowled by Giijs Kroesen for 27, but Overdijk looks to counter-attack, he’s on 23* off 13, Yash Patel in with him.

Engelbrecht brings up a fighting fifty driving Sikander through the covers for four, but the wickets have been falling around him throughout. Shafiq finishes with figures of 4-14, VCC have two overs left to make something of the innings..

Doyle-Calle skips down to Singh and flicks high and handsome over the on-side for his 8th six and maiden top-flight ton. It’s taken him just 47 balls and he shows no sign of slowing down.

Wiggins goes for 55 swiping across the line at Ingram, and Banerjee goes caught midwicket top-edging Lubbers. Overdik in with Gorlee

It’s been one-way traffic at Hazelaarweg bar the two early wickets, Schierhout making hay while the sun (sort of) shines as he races into the 80s, McKenzie comparatively becalmed at the other end. But as I type Schierhout looks to flat-bat Usmanzai straight and miscues, drifts out to Sherzad at long off and gone for 85. De Kok at five.

Dutt goes for 19 skewing Ahmadi to deep third, Ostling in at four, but the scoring hardly slows as DDC brings up his half century pulling Hoornweg for six over square then going inside out over cover for four more. Hermes flying.

First down at de Diepput as Blankenstijn nicks off Staal for a belaboured 5 off 11, but Wiggins is going well at the other end, one shy of fifty with Gorlee at the other end now.

Hermes are going hard on the tiny second ground, depsite the loss off last week’s centurion Klijnhans who holes out off Baker for 11. Dutt in with DDC now, who has raced to 41* off 23, Dutt more than keeping pace on 19 off 9.

All action at Hazelaarwaeg. Fourie is cleaned up early by Sherzad, but Schierhout and Bettelheim counter attack, taking VOC swiftly past fifty before Gopinath turns one between bat and pad to bowl the latter for 25. Jock McKenzie in and the two new overseas keep the runs coming, VOC going at tens from the off.

Back in action at de Diepput too, HCC elect to bat. Wiggins and Staal opening and a solid start so far. Ingram and Ralston share the new ball.

Wickets tumble early at the Zomewrcomplex, Shafiq has Gigani stumped, then Levitt goes for 18 shanking Kamal high to deep backward square and Croes picks out midwicket in the same over. De Lange is stumped in Shafiq’s next, Engelbrecht trying to hold things together with Kulkarni for company.

Game 2 underway at VRA 2, and depsite a slight delay they’re aiming to get a full T20 in. Hermes elect to bat and off to a fine start. CP Klijnhans and Daniel Doyle Calle for the Schiedammers, the latter finds the first boundary whipping Baker high over the scorer’s table and your humble correspondent at deep fine.

And they’re underway at Zomercomplex too, Punjab won the toss and put VCC in and Levitt’s already taken three boundaries off Kamal in the first over.

Timely start at Hazelaarweg, Salland won the toss and inserted the hosts. Schierhout and Fourie opening, Lubbers takes the new ball.

All over at the Bos too, didn’t last long once Nidamanuru and Eales got going. They finish on 42* off 20 and 35* off 15 respectively as VRA win by 8 wickets.

And all over at de Diepput, HCC skittled for 90 as Botha claims the final wicket. HBS win by 105 runs.

Rasool goes early too, bowled by Scheepers for 7, but Nidamanuru and Eales – the latter quite rightly promoted up the order – have taken the chase in hand.

The collapse is almost complete at de Diepput, Henrico Venter has come on and run through the tail with three consecutive wickets on his first run-out against his old club. Leijer and de Lange the last pair trying to mitigate the NRR damage for the hosts.

VRA stumble out of the blocks as Singh is bowled third ball by Baker, but Rasool and Nidamanuru both find the rope and the target’s not a long way off. Will take something special from Sparta to defend it.

The HCC chase is rapidly unravelling now. De Mey into the attack and bags two in his second, Staal caught Barresi at extra cover and Overdijk stumped. Leonard and Patel now trying to salvage something.

Shariz misses out on the hat-trick, but has another wicket two balls later, Scheepers caught behind for 7. Singh gives up just four runs in the ninth, then it’s Floyd (without beanie) on for the final over. he has Manminder Singh caught in the deep first ball, Vikram taking his third catch of the day to make up for his early bluster-blunder. Umar Baket is stumped three balls later, though Tom Hoornweg does bring some cheers from the Sparta dug out when he hits his first ball for a straight six. Sparta finish on 82-9.

HCC struggle through the powerplay at the cost of two more wickets, Wggins and Banerjee caught off Botha and Boddendijk respectively. Overdijk joins Staal.

Collapse is on. Shariz has two in his first over, Ferguson and Ahmadi caught off the last two balls. He’ll be on a hattrick if he comes back. Then Nashier for the 7th, has Balwantsingh caught short third. Scheepers launches the last ball of the over over the road though. Manminder Singh in with him.

The chase in on at de Diepput and Klein has two already, Chrumbira and Gorlee fall early, Wiggins in with Staal.

Singh takes the ball for the fifth and removes Mudford diving to Nidamanuru at extra cover, who takes an awkward catch on the rise. Clark in and nicked off first ball. Balwantsingh at survives the hattrick ball. Shariz Ahmad into the attack.

Abid into the attack, bowling short at Mudford. This goes badly. Three sixes over the leg side and a ball hunt ensues.

Comical scenes, Mudford should be gone really. Huge top edge off Floyd goes high up into the wind, Singh races toward mid off where he imagines it would be coming down, failing to account for said wind, which pushes it right back a good eight meters and drops it right where he started. He looks utterly baffled at this turn of events. Nidamanuru brings Eales on next over and Martina skies his first ball up toward Shariz at a straightish long off, who demonstrates a better understanding of physics to settle under it and take a comfortable catch. Ferguson at three.

Barresi gets to 52 before becoming Leijer’s third victim of the day, he’s done a fine job for his side though, 196 will be the taget.

And we’re off. Mudford and Martina opening for Sparta, Fletcher takes the new ball. Mudford off the mark second ball down the track driving through extra to the rope, then helps one down leg for four more. Floyd from the other end, in a beanie.

Leonard has picked up a couple of wickets looking to peg back HBS, de Villiers and Klein back in the hutch, but Barresi’s still there on 41*.

They’ve split the difference, 10 overs each way. VRA win the toss and bowl.

Teun Leijer has another, Mason caught behind for 51. Barresi in and looking in fine fettle as he hooks Charumbira over fine leg for six.

Meanwhile Teun Leijer has the first breakthrough for HCC, Walburgh holing out to Overdijk at deep midwicket on the pull. Next over Charumbira (bowling from the same end – ECN style) has Lehan Botha caught behind. Matte de Villiers joins Mason, who’s closing in on a half century.

And the second field has been cleared out, 11 over game starting at 11.30 is the word, or failing that a 9 over game at 11.45. The afternoon game will likely also be on the 2nd field, there’s apparently hope (perhaps a fools hope) that the third game will be back on the main ground.

The umpires and a gaggle of players have made their way over to the second ground, where I think the VRA 3rds are playing a friendly – possibly not for long…

Game on at de Diepput at least, Mason and Walbrugh have gotten HBS off to a flying start, 39 without loss after 4, de Lange and Crowley sharing the new ball.

At de Diepput, HBS have won the toss and elected to bat. Game’s been moved to the second field as the main ground is sodden. 15 minute delay so start expected at 10.15.

A lot of glum faces here at the Bos. The square has not improved much since Friday it seems. Damp muddy patches at either end of the square, along with a long brown gash along the side of the artificial, are all visible from the pavilion. Inspection at 10.30 but I’d say cautious pessimism is warranted.