Top class VCC, defending its national title this year, did good business with wins over HBS (262-162) and Hermes DVS (333-164). HCC and HBS both won and lost once.
On Saturday, HBS came to visit VCC. The home team, batting after winning the toss, soon saw top batsman Michael Levitt go out. Reasonable scores were for Nehaan Gigani and Gavin Kaplan (both 34). With fantastic batting and a partnership of 111 for the fourth wicket, Noah Croes and Ryan Klein (68) brought the score to a perspective of 206 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Captain Croes went out for another fine 80, but 262/7 was the solid final result.
Ryan Klein’s brother, Kyle, played strongly for HBS. Earlier in the day he had already taken three wickets and also as a batsman he stood out above his teammates with 43 runs. On the Voorburg side, it was Mees van Vliet (3-23) and Michael Levitt (3-21) who excelled. Mees van Vliet additionally caught top batsman Tayo Walbrugh handsomely. Despite late resistance from Azzam Khan (31), HBS (162) fell 101 runs short of the win.
Hermes DVS also child of the bill
At the end of July, Hermes DVS surprised friend and foe by recording a deserved victory over VCC, forcing a spot in the playoffs as a newly promoted team.
On Sunday, however, the roles were reversed.
Spectators were treated to an amazing batting display by Michael Levitt (105) and Gavin Kaplan (120). Both players reached the magic milestone of 100 runs and made a partnership of a whopping 128 runs for the second wicket. Contributions from Ryan Klein (27) and Michael Molenaar took VCC to 333 runs.
Hermes DVS made no attempt to top this monster score. It chose to bat as many overs as possible and succeeded at the last minute. Most of the Schiedammers’ resistance came from Ostling (54) and Klijnhans (33). When legspinner Floris de Lange had outscored both top scorers, it was not obvious that the numerous substitutes could provide a stunt. Hermes DVS was all out for 164 in exactly fifty overs thanks to a run out and two wickets by Kaplan in the final over.
HBS and HCC
HCC beat Punjab very handsomely on Saturday. Punjab reached 261 runs (Riaz 78), but it was not enough for the win, as Boris Gorlee (97) and Jed Wiggins (56 not out) took it on.
A day later, HCC played a nail-biter against city rival HBS. Barresi (45) and De Villiers (40) contributed significantly to 227 HBS runs. At 89/6 for HCC, HBS seemed to have the win in the bag, but a ferociously stirring tail (Overdijk 36, Patel 39, number eleven Leijer 16) almost piloted the Diepput residents into safe harbor. Kyle Klein (3-20) and Lehan Botha 4-44) prevented an HCC celebration.
On Aug. 10, VCC plays at Van Hogenhoucklaan in The Hague against HCC. VRA visits HBS on the Daal and Bergselaan.
Championship standings
Punjab 11-16
Voorburg CC en HBS 11-15
HCC 11-14
VRA 11-12
Hermes DVS 11-9
