VOC does not qualify for BET2BALL European Cricket League finals week

Predominantly young and somewhat rusty VOC players had to get used to playing cricket in March. Against Frankfurt, the Rotterdammers only scored 80 runs. Frankfurt surpassed this total in 8.1 overs, with a namesake of the famous Shahid Afridi as top scorer.

VOC regrouped against Malta. This time the 'bloodhounds' could field first and thanks to Upadhyaya (3-6) they kept Malta on 93. For VOC, Tim de Kok (50 out of 16) and Jelte Schoonheim (28 out of 15) made optimal use of a handful of dropped catches by the Maltese: 94/2 in 6.3 overs.

A day later the Ostend Exiles were the opponents. VOC fielded first after winning the toss. Ostende raced to 66/0 in five overs, with the young spinner Van Wingerden suffering. Opener Mehmood was dropped and that proved expensive; the Belgian made 57 not out of 27 balls out of a total of 116/2. Captain Fletcher (0-11) bowled two brilliant overs.

VOC choked on the Belgian score. After a great start (43/0/3) Jelte Schoonheim was given caught behind off his pad. VOC was unable to overcome this blow; on 88/6 the second defeat was a fact.

Against Alby Zalmi from Sweden, it went better. Again VOC opted for fielding after winning the toss. Pierce Fletcher once again led the attack with a host of slower off- and leg cutters. 90/5 was all the Swedes could manage.

In reply, Arnav Jain (29 off 18) and Tim de Kok ensured a smooth start. VOC passed the Swedish total with one over to spare. Weak fielding certainly did not help the Scandinavians.

Finally, on March 2, the (fourth) game against Calpe Giants was on. (Originally St Petersburg, but that team had been replaced due to visa issues.) For the umpteenth time, the coin fell well for Pierce Fletcher and the Rotterdammers bowled first. They did well, as evidenced by the mediocre final score of 70/4. VOC replied with 72/1 in 5.2 overs (!) with Jelte Schoonheim 40 not out off 16 balls.

The playoffs followed on March 3. VOC could not get a grip on the varied attack of MSC Frankfurt and it was due to De Kok and Upadhyaya that 88/5 came into the books.

Niaz got the unleashed Shahid Afridi (38 out of 17) LBW and that seemed like a crucial breakthrough. Frankfurt, however, was on course for a fairly easy win with two overs to go. A fine over from Schoonheim turned the chances once again. Fletcher (1-8 in 2) bowled a brilliant over and Upadhyaya kept a cool head in the final over. Frankfurt 84/5.

Then, Ostende... Actually, this was almost a carbon copy of the match in the group stage. Ostende made a monster score (121) and at a score of 22/4 VOC was already down and out. At 42/5, the heavily built Boris Hoes slipped in the pouring rain and seemed to suffer a terrible knee injury. Fortunately, he was able to stumble off the field without assistance (rain stopped play), but a victory was impossible at this stage.

The game against Alby Zalmi was the proverbial last straw. A win would mean a semi-final against (again) the Belgians from Ostende and then against Frankfurt again; the last chances of a place in the final week. Lost toss, however, meant batting first and that did not go well for VOC earlier this week. Even the guns De Kok and Schoonheim could not achieve acceleration. 60/6 is not a final score you expect; only 6 per over. The Swedes took eight overs to make the necessary 61 runs.

Captain Pierce Fletcher is disappointed but certainly also sees the positives of the tournament: “We missed the big boys but the likes of Arnav Jain, Tim de Kok, Jelte Schoonheim and Ramie Upyadaya stepped up as senior players. For youngsters, the opportunity to play on tv was an amazing experience, with all of them enjoying moments of success. As for the tournament, the European Cricket Network runs a tight ship and was well looked after throughout the week. VOC will be back to defend their T20 National Title for another chance to challenge for the ECL Trophy.”