Saturday certainly provided a epic day’s Hoofdklasse cricket. Not only did top sides VRA and VOC pull off thrilling last-over victories of contrasting character but equal excitement, but VVV kept their slender hopes of survival alive with a remarkable win over Voorburg, while comic relief was supplied by a rain-affected result at HBS that only the KNCB’s ludicrous playing regulations could create.

Even the one match that fell victim to the weather had a story attached to it. Excelsior’s home game against Rood en Wit had been switched to Haarlem because the Schiedam club was unable to provide a ground – the football season having started again – but heavy rain on Friday left Rood en Wit’s ground waterlogged and the match was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

VRA’s top-of-the-table clash with HCC also came close to falling victim to the weather, and only hard work had the ground playable by the scheduled start time. Yet on a day when the batsmen were generally on top, the result was a match which produced the highest scoring of all.

Having won the toss and elected to field, VRA saw HCC run up 266 for six, with Feiko Kloppenburg making 76 and teenager Bob Entrop and coach Stephanus Myburgh contributing 39 and 38 respectively.

This solid batting performance put the home side under a good deal of pressure, and at 146 for five with fifteen overs left, despite a solid third-wicket partnership between Eric Szwarczynski (58) and Darrin Murray (36), VRA seemed to be heading for a second defeat by HCC this season. Peter Borren hit a splendid 72, however, and then coach Ryan Maron again demonstrated his value by making 35 not out off 23 balls, smashing Mark Jonkman for a straight six off the penultimate ball to give his side a tense one-wicket victory.

It was only in Rotterdam that the bowlers were, comparatively speaking, on top. After a delayed start because of the condition of the ground, Hermes-DVS battled their way to 173 for eight, after managing only 83 from the first thirty overs for the loss of three wickets. Keystone of the innings was veteran opener Lou Borrani, whose 64 was of vital importance to the side. He and Nicky Statham (31) put on 80 for the fourth wicket, while Robbie de Widt was the most successful of the VOC bowlers with three for 34.

Michael Dighton (47) and Maarten van Ierschot (27) again gave their side a rapid start with an opening stand of 47, and with more rain threatening VOC were keen to get ahead of the required run-rate. They had reached 55 off nine overs before a prolonged shower interrupted proceedings, but when they came back the Hermes bowlers started to make inroads into the batting.

At 105 for five VOC seemed to be in trouble, but captain Bas Zuiderent still there and only two an over needed they gradually worked their way towards the target. Pieter Seelaar bowled a fine ten-over spell, conceding just 17, and when the home side were 133 for seven another upset seemed to be on the cards.

Zuiderent held firm, however, as he and Thomas Reeve added 44 for the eighth wicket. With the scores level and three balls left Zuiderent hit the boundary which gave VOC the points and took him to a well-deserved half-century.

VVV’s successful run-chase against Voorburg had a totally different character. The venue for this match, too, was switched because the Westvliet ground was unavailable, and here the game got away on time. VCC elected to bat first, and Gijs Bins (49) and John Sist (68) gave their side an initial advantage with an 83-run opening stand.

With Wilfried Diepeveen contributing another valuable innings of 38, Voorburg finished with 249 for six, but the VVV batsmen reached this target with seven overs to spare for the loss of only three wickets. Mudassar Bukhari hit a rapid 64, and then Mehmood Shahbaz and Mohammad Sadiq came together in an unbroken 137-run partnership for the third wicket to make sure of the points. Sadiq was particularly devastating with 86, while Shahbaz made 45.

Quick Haag’s innings against HBS began with a magnificent opening stand between Lesley Stokkers, who missed his maiden Hoofdklasse century by just two runs, and Geert Maarten Mol (84). HBS fought back, however, and with Sjoerd Weurman taking five for 51 Quick finished with 257 for eight.

The HBS innings had barely got under way before the rain interfered, and when the players came back three overs had been deducted, setting the batsmen a revised target of 242 in 47 overs. With Sebastian Smit, restored to an opening spot, making 64 and Grant Elliott 30, they made steady progress, and Reinout Scholte then took over, making 69 and ensuring that they reached the target with four wickets in hand and three overs to spare.

That didn’t mean they’d won, however, since there was still a possibility that Quick could take the remaining four wickets in those three overs. So the players had to stay on the field, and HBS finished with 247 for six.

Saturday’s results mean that both championship and relegation issues remain unresolved. The fact that Rood en Wit did not play means that they remain marginally ahead of VVV, but they face VOC on Sunday while their rivals take on Quick Haag. At the other end of the table, VRA will travel to HBS with VOC still breathing down their necks. A September conclusion to the Hoofdklasse season now seems certain, regardless of how co-operative the weather gods decide to be on Sunday.