The game between VOC Rotterdam and HBS Den Haag ended in near-chaos on Saturday, with the umpires walking off the field for the second time twelve overs into the HBS innings and declaring the match abandoned.

A first interruption had occurred in the 23rd over of the VOC innings, with the score on 79 for three. Batsman Reinout van Ierschot appeared to have been caught behind off Barend Westdijk, but the ball was called wide. Van Ierschot stood his ground, and the reaction of the HBS players was strong enough to cause the umpires to leave the field.

After a break of more than half an hour they returned, and the innings resumed. VOC had early been in an unfamiliar situation, three wickets falling for 59, but van Ierschot profited from his good fortune by making 68, sharing partnerships of 43 with Bas Zuiderent (38) and 78 with Robbie de Widt (38).

As if the game were not already eventful enough, HBS wicket-keeper Guy Borba Lefebvre sustained a recurrence of a finger injury and had to be replaced by Reinout Scholte.

Alexei Kervezee cleaned up at the end of the VOC innings, taking four for 40 as the batsmen hit out and took the total up to 210, the last wicket falling off the final ball of the scheduled fifty overs.

Michael Dighton had Kervezee caught and bowled in the first over of the HBS reply, and when he bowled Borba Lefebvre the score became 37 for two.

HBS skipper Billy Stelling was batting well, but then one over from Jelte Schoonheim brought the game to its premature end. First Stelling was caught at cover by Muhammad Kashif, to be replaced by coach Grant Elliott. He got off the mark with a two, but then edged to Maarten van Ierschot at slip. The ball seemed to bounce in front of the fieldsman, but after some hesitation the umpire raised his finger.

A clearly incredulous Elliott walked off, laughing, to be followed by Scholte. Before he could reach the boundary, however, the umpires began walking off, and the match was subsequently declared abandoned.

Under the competition rules, if it is determined that the match was abandoned because of the conduct of the HBS players, it will be awarded to VOC. HBS could also be subject to further penalties (including the deduction of two points).