Topklasse Live | Round 14 | As it Happened

And right on cue it’s a wrap at the ‘plex too. Rens van Troost pulls Zulfiqar for 4 to move into the 30s on what’s been a creditable return knock for him, but two balls later spoons one hight to long on and it’s all over. Punjab win by 114 runs.

And it’s the one. Shariz Ahmad gets it, Leijer down the wrong line and struck in front, Ahmad steals a cursory galce over the shoulder at the umpire as he takes off in celebration and sure enough the finger is up. VRA win by 17 runs.

Meanwhile Patel drags HCC an inch closer as he glances Hake fine for four priceless runs. Just 18 to get now, or one wicket for the visitors.

And another for Zulfiqar as Ralston holes out to deep midwicket. Edward in.

The inevitable draws closer at the Zomercomplexz as Schewe loses his off stump to a Zulfiqar slower ball. Ralston penultimate man.

And a breakthrough they get. Vrolijk caught top-edging a pull off Ruffel. VRA one wicket away in the last and only close game of the day. Teun Leijer last man.

Getting tense at de Diepput though. Hake into the attack for VRA, no runs off the bat from his first but a wide down leg brings up the fifty partnership.Still 32 to get but VRA in real need of a breakthrough now.

Oberholzer gets there in the end, cuts Kothari away fro a couple in front of point, then clears the front leg next ball to pull hard through square to the rope for four. He finishes unbeaten on 100* off 73 as VOC win by 8 wickets.

Hundred up for Excelsior meanwhile, Schewe and van Troost both on 9* off 20+ balls. Sikander Zulfiqar into the attack. Game just drifting at the minute.

Oberholzer in a hurry now as he pulls Elenbaas behind square for his third four of the over, but immediately collapses with what looks like cramp. Bit of a break but he’s okay to continue, into the 90s now but runnig out of room to get the ton.

This partnership is increasingly looking like a match-winning one for the ninth wicket as Vrolijk puts a wide full ball from Ruffel away to the rope trhough point. VRA still just two wickets away but just 35 runs left to defend now. Turmaine from the other end…

Excelsior lose another as Etman tries to brush Shahzad off his pads, misses and up goes the finger. Schewe in with van Troost now but game’s pretty much gone.

Oberholzer and Singh pressing on for VOC, Braat back now in tandem with Jabarkhail but VOC seem comfortably on track. Just 20 to get now.

Yash Patel and Teun Vrolijk digging in at de Diepput meanwhile. HCC only really need on partnership of substance and this on’es worth 33 already. Fifty more to get, Fletcher back for VRA.

Collapse continues at the Zomercomplex as Rahaley holes out off Minhas and now Kroesen edges him to slip. The returning Rens van Troost in with Niels Etman now.

Twin fifties for Jannet and Oberholzer, both going at better than a run a ball now and VOC cruising, but against the run of play Jabarkhail breaks the stand holding a sharp low return catch to send Jannet back for 55. Monty Singh to the middle.

And a needless mix-up does for van Troost, run out for 8, Joost Kroesen in with Rahaley now as they look to rebuild.

Ruffel into the attack and finds immediate reward, has Kloppenburg caught behind for Cassidy’s fourth catch of the innings (or fifth if you believe the scorers) and now Wolfe caught off a top edge well held by Smal tearing into the circle for a sliding grab. And now a third for him as Crowley chops on. Quite a collapse this.

VOC’s progress comparatively serene meanwhile, Jannet and Oberholzer both into the 30s at on or around a run a ball. Spin at both ends now, Jabrkhail and Kothari for the hosts.

Excelsior also stumbling out of the gate, after a 25-run opening stand Etman spoons Tariq up to leg and is caught for 11, and Verhagen holes out to long on in his next over. Then the big wicket, van Tonder cauight behind off Haider and Excelsior in all sorts.Rahaley and van Troost in.

And yet another down at de Diepput as Banerjee is cleaned up by Shariz for 15. Wolfe joins Kloppenburg. HCC have lost half their side now with 100 still to get.

Botha wants this game done. Absolute carnage in the 12th as he sends van Vliet across or over the rope on every single delivery. Brings up his hundred two overs later with six more off Charumbira, then another for good measure. And another to level the scores. I mean it’s a small gound but this has been quite silly. Ten sixes he’s hit. 116* off 40 balls so far. And a four to finish. Surely a Topklasse Bannerman this – he’s hit 120* of the Crows’ 143 runs as HBS win by 8 wickets.

Braat brings himself on first change, and immediately removes his opposite number, de Kok on the back foot driving and edged through to Zulfiqar, doesn’t wait for the finger. Oberholzer at three..

Back on at the ‘plex too, Tim Etman and Roel Verhagen opening, just like old times. Tariq and Haider share the new ball.

And we’re underway again at the Loopuyt, VOC off to a brisk start to the chase too. Tim de Kok opening with Scott Jannet, takes ten of Oli Elenbaas in the second over. Nunair shares the new ball.

Botha meanwhile has raced to fifty off half as many balls, but has lost Bopendermaker along the way, caught off van Vliet. Walbrugh at four and HBS half-way home.

Another down at de Diepput and a rare failure at home for the HCC skipper, Gorlee miscues a square drive off Singh and held by Smal at backward pointish. And another! Singh tfinds White’s edge now and a fanstastic take from Cassidy low to his left. Banerjee and Kloppenburg now, with HCC in trouble.

Botha batting like a man who fancies catching some of Italy-Guernsey later, races to 32* before Boendemaker even gets off the mark. Nashier coming in for particular punishment at the minute, and as Botha takes him for six more the youngster might be forgiven a longing glance over the road at the spin-friendlier main ground and it’s comparatively colossal boundaries..

HCC one down already too, Vikram Singh taking Brown’s outside edge with the first delivery of the second over. Staal and Gorlee in for the hosts, Fletcher shares the new ball. And make that two down, as Staal gets glove on a pretty poor delivery down leg from Fletcher and is caught. White at four.

And indeed HBS lose one early, Toby Visee caught third ball off Udit Nashier. Botha joins Boendermaker.

Elenbaas eases Harhangi over midwicket for six, but chases the next and spear it into the gloves of Singh, diving to his right. Numair lofts Schoonheim out to Van der Meulen at long on, and Hermes, too, are dismissed within their 50 overs.

Rahaley switches ends, Haider hoists him over long on for six, drives him through the covers for four, then holes out to Ralston at long on and departs for 31. Ralston bowls Sajjad Kamal, but Shahzad finishes on 34*, and Punjab have left Excelsior with a moderately large Alp to climb.

All over at the Bermweg: Tim Fergusonon for the final rites, Jacod hits the brace that takes him to 33*, Berry on 34* off 8, and Kampong win by 9 wickets for the second week in a row.

Jamil hits a Schoonheim full toss down the throat of Pieter Recordon at deep square leg, but Elenbaas minor and Roy Numair produce some useful scampering to keep the scoreboard moving.

A mix of hard hitting and enterprising running in the closing stages by Shahzad and Tehzeeb Haider takes Punjab up towards 250.

Tom Hoornweg gets a breakthrough, Van den Berg caught at deep mid-off by Ahmadi for 13, but that brings Lane Berry in to join Jacod. And he starts with 4 – 4 – 6 – 6 – 6, just devastating.

Fine work by De Kok: Braat pushes him back on the off side and comes for a single, De Kok’s on it, Braat tries to turn back and slips, and the bowler throws the wicket down. Superb! Then Oberholzer traps Elenbaas in front, although the batter remains unconvinced, which brings his brother Ralph in to join Mussayab Jamil.

Punjab have (a) made it into the final ten, and (b) posted 200. Unbelievable riches today. 67* for Niaz, Shahzad on 21*, But before I can post this, Rahaley gets one through Niaz’s defences and into the stumps.

Four more deliveries suffice, Fletcher caught by White off Brown and Sharad Hake going first ball. Cowley the pick of the bowlers with five for 40. I want to know whether I’ve time-travelled into the 1950s, when 150 was a good score.

De Mey finishes it off, trapping Mees van Vliet leg-before and then bowling Alejo Nota. Three wickets apiece for Barresi, Rossouw and De Mey as Spinners Rule OK at Westvliet 2.

A little pinned down by Oberholzer, Statham takes a mighty swing, overbalances, and is stumped by Singh/Bharaj. Sebastiaan Braat joins Elenbaas, who’s on 38*

Van den Berg positively stodgy by his standards, but Jacod’s in more aggressive mode, and Kampong are cruising.

Fifty for Niaz on a day of batterly madness, Shahzad still solid at the other end.

Crowley returns, Cassidy tries not to play a shot and fails, Wolfe does the rest. Next ball, Leon Turmaine is trapped in front. In his next over, Peter Ruffell also gets an edge, and Wolfe takes a routine catch. Ben Fletcher in to join Thakur.

Another for Rossouw, Mumba bowled for 49 off 36, with three sixes and five fours. Not sure what the batters have been taking, but it’s going to make for short games.

It’s Oberholzer who gets the wicket though, Kothari holing out to Van der Meulen at deep wicket and departing for 25. Nick Statham in to join Elenbaas.

Quick turnover in Capelle, Jacod opening with Van den Berg in the absence of O’Dowd. Who’s running the book on how many balls Kampong will take to win this?

When the ball came back, Shinwari tried to thrash the next one away to leg, and Stan van Troost claims the catch. Shinwari not happy, gesturing to his pad, but he’s got to go. For 26, in fact, and Khurram Shahzad joins Niaz. Since then Niaz has gone on to 38*, with Shahzad offering useful support.

Thijs Vrolijk, tall and quite lively, does for Zaidi, who pulls him to deep square leg, doesn’t get all of it, and is caught by Yash Patel. Viraj Takkur the new man.

Voorburg following suit, with Jayden Rossouw removing first Usman Malik and then Udit Nashier, All Zimbabwe in the middle now, with Patient Carumbira in to join Mumba. And I wish I were paid on a per wicket basis!

Really, you can’t turn your back for a moment!!! Sparta, oblivious to the fact that your correspondent has other games to cover as well, have imploded in his absence. Jacod traps Singh in front (67/5), has Baker caught at point by Ingram (74/7), Max Hoornweg holes out to Mees Hoffmann off Gopinath (74/8), Tom Hoornweg is trapped in front in the same over (74/9), and finally Joost-Martijn Snoep iscaught in the covers by Gopinath off Jacod. Gopinath three for 18, Jacod three for 14, and no shock at the Bermweg today, it seems.

Hermes are probably looking the most in control of all the sides batting first today, and Kothari and Elenbaas build a pretty useful stand. Kothari, though, looks in trouble when he goes back to Christiaan Oberholzer, and the ball nearly skids through. He looks a lot more comfortable on the front foot. And here’s a thing: Tim de Kok on to bowl!

Niaz and Shinwari are digging Punjab out of trouble, the latter hoisting Verhagen over square for six, and there’s a prolonged delay while they retrieve the ball. Niels Etman’s on from the Equestrian Centre End as Verhagen looks for the breakthrough. No Brett Hampton or Antum Naqvi for Excelsior today, by the way.

Oliver White into the attack and Shariz Ahmad flicks him over suare leg for six, but when Leijer returns from the Scoreboard End he hauls him to midwicket and Boris Gorlee is there to take the catch. Ibaad Zaidi in at six.

HBS well on top at Westvliet 2, as Mohsen becomes Barresi’s third victim, caught by Botha, and Tom de Leede’s trapped in front by Julien de Mey. Usman Malik and Carl Mumba with some reconstruction to do.

Lukas Boorer greets Jacob by hammering him over midwicket for six, but after he’s reversed to hit Akhil Gopinath behind point for four the left-armer gets his revenge, Boorer overbalancing and Damien van den Berg whipping the bails off. Manminder Singh the new man.

Zulfiqar didn’t stay long, caught behind by Monty Singh off Harhangi, but since then Kothari and Olivier Elenbaas have been doing a pretty good job of rebuilding. Siebe van Wingerden on now from the Pavilion End

Rens van Troost, another returnee today, into the attack, Zulfiqar chases a lifting delivery outside off, and Rahaley does the rest at point. Fawad Shinwari in to join Niaz.

Another for Crowley, who bowls Rasool for a lightning 9-ball 23, and then Johan Smal is freakishly run out. Jack Cassidy drives back hard, Brown gets a hand on it, but diverts it into the stumps with Smal out of his ground. Always a terrible way togo, and despite their rapid start, VRA are in a spot of bother.

Wickets at Westvliet as well, where Barresi adds the scalp of Henry Melville and then Botha traps De Lange in front. Debutant Waseem Mohsen is joined by Tom de Leede.

Sparta in trouble now: Scheepers starts promisingly, but then he drives Roy uppishly into the covers and Ingram takes the catch. Next over Ingram himself has Tim Ferguson caught by Jacod for 18, and then Roy gets a third, Ahmadi holing out to Bangs at extra.

Action at De Diepput, and no kidding! Shirase Rasool, back for the first time this season, opens with Vikram Singh, and takes a six and two fours off Teun Leijer’s opening over, then six more in his second. Singh goes after Crowley, twice cracking him through the off side for four, but then he can’t control a pull off a delivery that climbs on him a little, and he’s caught by Josh Brown.

Schoonheim gets the breakthrough: Doyle, having raced to 42, offers thebowler a return catch, which he takes one-handed. Then Harhangi pins Ostling as he tries to clip him to leg, and VOC are back in the game. Asad Zulfiqar joins Sahil Kothari in the middle.

A sensation-ette at the Zomercomplex, where Joost Kroesen comes into the attack, and his over ends with Riaz looking for an imaginary single into the covers and run out by the return from Mathijs Schewe to Stan van Troost, who’s keeping today. Because Verhagen’s having a bowl. But it’s Kroesen who slides one past Muhammad Gondal’s defence and clips the topof off stump. Perfect leg-break, and suddenly Punjab are in trouble! Sikander Zulfiqar joins Niaz.

Cedric de Lange and Gavin Kaplan open at Westvliet, facing Wes Barresi and Lehan Botha. And Barresi claims the key wicket of Kaplan, caught by Tayo Walbrugh for 13.

Wicket at the Bermweg: Roy into the attack, Ambrose chases a wideish one, and is caught by Jacod at slip. Juandre Scheepers in at three.

Jelte Schoonheim and Roman Harhangi on for the Jains, but Ostling and Doyle continue, bringing up the fifty for Hermes in another excellent start, Doyle pulling Harhangi effortlessly just in front of square for six.

It doesn’t deter Musa, however: he pulls both Ralston and Edward over square for six, and with a four off each into the bargain he races past 30. He welcomes Sam Rahaley into the attack with another boundary, but when he tries to sweep the Australian his leg stump is knocked back as well. He goes for a 29-ball 40, and Mohsin Riaz joins Niaz.

It always happens when you look away: Edward comes back in exemplary fashion, producing a splendid yorker which uproots Minhas’s leg stump. Burhan Niaz in at three in a rejigged Punjab top order.

Voorburg have won the toss at Westliet, and will bat, starting at 11:40. A blow for the hosts, as Alejo Nota is struck in the fact while warming up and will need attention. It’s fortunate for him and the side that they’re batting first.

Hermes making steady progress against the brothers Jain: Doyle drives Aaditt sweetly to the long off boundary, then more meatily hammers him over cover for four more. Then Ostling goes onto the back foot to loft Arnav over extra for another. An Ostling edge past a diving slip produces yet another four.

Nothing at all to report from De Diepput, which may mean that there’s a delayed toss there as well.

Tim Ferguson and Craig Ambrose open for Sparta, facing Kertan Nana and Shashank Kumar. Very little to report so far, with the Kampong pacemen keeping things very quiet.

Punjab pick up where they left off last week: Minhas lofts Edward back over his head for four, then eases Ralston over midwicket for six. Musa clips Edward through fine leg for four, then drives him square for back-to-back boundaries. A no ball is lashed over gully for four more. And Punjab are off and running.

A delayed toss at the Westvliet second ground, we understand.

Tim de Kok calls correctly at the Loopuyt Oval, Hermes to bat. Ostling and Doyle open as usual, Arnav Jain takes the first over from the Pavilion End. A single apiece. Aaditt Jain from the Railway End.

Jason Ralston starts from the Equestrian Centre End, bowling to Musa Ahmad, who’s opening today, First delivery is guided through point for a couple, then a single brings Shoaib Minhas on strike. He clips him off his pads through midwicket for two more, then a single into the covers. Karson Edward to bowl the second.

Alex Roy has won the toss at the Bermweg, and invited Sparta to have a bat..

Information has been hard to come by this morning, but we can tell you that Sikander Zulfiqar has won the toss at the Zomercomplex and elected to bat.