Following last week's ill-advised excercise in direct democracy, you regular prognosticator returns with a look ahead at this weekend's matches.

Still undefeated Dosti-United travel to Hazelaarweg on Saturday to play a catch-up match against 7th-placed VOC, and despite a promising showing with the ball against Quick last week the hosts are once again underdogs. Pieter Seelaar and overseas Jeandre Jumat have found some form with the ball, but the VOC batting has looked fragile all season, with Tim Ruyters the only batsman averaging over 20. Conversely, Dosti's South African pairing of Colin Ackermann and Stiaan van Zyl have been in imperious form, the former coming off the back of a magnificent unbeaten 120 against VRA last week. The defending champions have not looked quite invulnerable thus far, but for VOC to break their streak would be a stunning upset.

Somewhat tougher to call is VOC's match of the weekend against ACC at het Loopveld on Sunday, though again the Rotterdammers look to be underdogs going in. Asad Zulfiqar has settled into an anchor role at the top of the order, having accumulated almost 250 runs this season from the opening slot. With father Ahmed and skipper Usman Malik looking in decent nick with both bat and ball, and overseas JP de Villiers likewise able to contribute in both innings, ACC look the stronger side. Though second overseas Mangi Mosehle has misfired occasionally when ACC needed acceleration, any score over 200 has relaibly proved beyond VOC thus far.

Looking almost as dominant as Dosti so far this season are Quick Haag, their last-ball loss to the title-holders still the only blemish on their record. HCC face a tough challenge when they travel to Nieuw Hanenburg on Sunday, last weeks heavy loss to Excelsior doing little to instill confidence. Overseas players Werner Coetsee and Jonathan Vandiar are the only HCC bats to boast a 25+ average, despite occasionally promising showing from Tonny Staal and Joost van Kessel. Quick, conversely, have looked a more complete side all season. Skipper Tim Gruijters has been in excellent form with the bat but the Quick top-order's been far from a one-man show. Lesley Stokkers also looked a new player on return after struggling at Hermes, and though Wesley Barresi has not been quite the force of last season, even off-the-boil the Quick keeper's comfortably in the top-ten run-getters of the season so far. With overseas Ryan Cartwright in fine form with both bat and ball and Jeroen Brand recovering some of his 2014 form a Quick-Dosti final already looks nearly a done deal.

Third-placed Excelsior '20 will still hope to break the monotony of successive Dosti-Quick finals however, and will be confident of picking up another 2 points when they take on VRA at Thurlede. With an emphatic 9-wicket win over HCC last week the hosts certainly have the momentum with them, whilst VRA's sole win of the season is now a month past. Nonetheless the Amsterdammers put up an impressive showing against Dosti last week, holding the champions-presumptive to under 250 despite Ackermann's unbeaten 120, and looking well in the game for the first 30-odd overs of their reply. That said, VRA's batting still looks reliant on the performance of senior players Borren and Szwarczynski and with Freddie Klaasen still injured and Sadiq Mahmood unavailable, they look at leat one bowler light. Availability issues have plagued VRA throughout the season, and they've struggled to put a first choice side on the field. Conversely, Excelsior's young side has benefitted from consistent selection, with youngsters Joost Kroesen and Roel Verhagen having solid seasons with the bat in support of pros Ingram and McGillivray, and Rens van Troost climbing steadily up the wicket-taking table alongside skipper Tom Heggelman.

The weekend's final match sees Hermes DVS travel to Drieburg in the hope of springing a surprise on Dosti. Hermes have had a better season than most expected, the additions of Henrico Venter and Tendai Chitongo considerably strengthening the bowling and the young middle order showing surprising obstinacy with the bat. Nonetheless the Schiedammers remain reliant on Stephan Myburgh to put them in match-winning positions, and upon seniors Haro Seelaar and Nick Statham to support him. But then Myburgh has been in magnificent form of late, currently top run-scorer in the Topklasse with 539 at 67.4, so Hermes reliance on him is arguably something of a notional weakness. Dosti have not stumbled yet this season, and following the dubious logic of the gambler's fallacy, an upset is overdue.