While Saturday’s dramatic events were unfolding in Rotterdam, a more traditional sort of drama was taking place in nearby Schiedam, where HCC pulled off the Houdini act of the season in beating Hermes-DVS by two wickets.

After winning the toss, HCC initially gained the upper hand by bowling the home side out for 128, Feiko Kloppenburg and Stephanus Myburgh picking up early wickets and then Jacob-Jan Esmeijer taking three for 39. Only Jasper Beijer, with 29 before being run out, made any significant score for Hermes, while Harro Seelaar leant him valuable support with a dogged innings.

But Hermes were far from beaten. HCC were quickly reduced to 17 for four, and then to 35 for six. At this point the game seemed to have swung decisively Hermes’ way, but Jeroen Smits and Esmeijer led the fightback with a 66-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

With the total on 101 Robin ter Plegt bowled Esmeijer for 47, but Smits and Maurits Jonkman brought the score to one run behind Hermes’ before Smits was run out. Mark Jonkman now joined his twin, and they made the remaining runs to pull off a remarkable win.