VRA Amsterdam vs Hermes-DVS Schiedam (Amstelveen)

RL:
Sooner or later, surely, Hermes are going to break their duck, and there have been a few signs in the past couple of weeks that they are getting closer to a winning combination. But even though the Schiedammers have won on their last two visits to the Amsterdamse Bos, VRA’s improved performances this season will make them firm favourites to prevent that becoming three in a row. Both in batting and bowling VRA have the capacity to beat anybody in the competition, and Hermes’ oft-repeated dependence on a few senior players remains their real problem.

BdJ:
Hermes certainly present something of a banana skin for VRA, with Stephan Myburgh's record at the Bos a marked contrast to his current indifferent form. But while Myburgh has two centuries from his last three visits to VRA, Nick Statham (at 17.7) is the only other Hermes bat with an average in double figures over the same games. Though newcomer Dan ter Braak has looked in fine form over in the UK this week, It's fair to say VRA have the game in their hands, but there's no telling how the pressure will tell. A defeat for the hosts would realistically spell the end of their title challenge, whilst Hermes need a win to keep their hopes of Topklasse survival alive.

VOC Rotterdam vs Punjab Rotterdam (Hazelaarweg)

RL:
The first edition of a new Rotterdam derby will, it is believed, see the return of Punjab’s trump card Shoaib Minhas, but VOC’s Pieter Seelaar remains sidelined with a broken finger. Although they have a three-game margin over Hermes, VOC will know that a win here would effectively put paid to any fears of relegation, while for Punjab the two points would keep them in touch with the sides above them in the table. In a competition without any form of play-offs this may only be a question of pride, but the Topklasse newcomers have made it clear that every win is significant to them, and this match should be a real tussle.

BdJ:

A tricky call this, a mid-table clash between the pre-season favourites and 2017's surprise package. If it comes down to who's hungriest for the win, one would have to back the combative newcomers over a VOC side that must be somewhat demoralised and has yet to settle on a balanced selection in the absence of their middle-order linchpin and front-line spinner. That said, VOC's top order are beginning to find some form, and Max O'Dowd in particular has stepped up admirably in Seelaar's absence. A Punjab win would go some small way toward keeping things interesting at the bottom of the table, but that's not been the way the competition's worked out so far this season.

Quick Haag vs HBS Den Haag (Nieuw Hanenburg)

RL:
The Quick-HBS rivalry, on the other hand, has a long history, and the fact that the sides are currently fourth and second respectively should mean that this edition is a really tough contest. Home advantage is a key factor for both teams: the HBS top order of Tobias Visée, Corey Rutgers and Jaron Morgan thrive on the fast artificial outfield at Craeyenhout, but may find the lush grass of Nieuw Hanenburg less to their liking. Quick are at their best on their own turf, and although they have been far from consistent this season, they should be capable of denying their neighbours their first win at Nieuw Hanenburg since 2005.

BdJ:
Another tough call this, but I'm minded to disagree with the professor on this one. HBS have been more dominant at home, but have a batting line-up quite capable of taking the outfield out of the equation. Early wickets for Quick could shift the equation, and Jeroen Brand has shown himself more than capable of taking advantage of early inroads, but the hosts have no-one in the same consistent and destructive form as Jaron Morgan. Certainly one that could go either way, but I'd make the visitors marginal favourites on Sunday.

HCC vs Dosti United Amsterdam (De Diepput)

RL:
With 615 runs from eight innings, including three centuries and three fifties, Jonathan Vandiar has carried all before him so far this season, and together with Tonny Staal he has carried HCC’s batting with him. While Dosti have a decent attack, led by Corné Dry and the evergreen Mohammad Hafeez, they will need to be at their best to contain Vandiar, and their own batting, Taruwar Kohli apart, has not suggested that they have the arsenal they would need to overcome the Hagenaars.

BdJ:
As we've said most every week, Vandiar's is very much the wicket to get. Though Dosti have a more than capable attack, their form with the bat this season does not suggest they'd be likely to match another substantial Vandiar-inspired total of the sort HCC have been racking up of late. A rare failure from Vandiar would throw the game open, as HCC's middle order has been rather off the boil thus far and their seam attack is likewise short of their best, but Dosti taking points home from de Diepput would be an upset on current form.

Excelsior 20 Schiedam vs ACC (Thurlede)

RL:
Two things have become evident in the past couple of weeks: Excelsior’s batting suffers from a certain degree of fragility, and the champions have a remarkable ability to defend disappointing totals. They may not be playing as well as their supporters would like, but the fact is they go on winning, and it will take a big effort from an inconsistent ACC side to end their increasingly remarkable run. ACC, by contrast, have lost three in a row, and they are badly in need of a victory to boost a young and relatively inexperienced team. It would, however, be a major surprise if it came at Thurlede on Sunday.

BdJ:
For all their inconsistency, I'd ACC have as good a chance as any of derailing Excelsior's championship-train on Sunday. One feels in fact that if the Schiedammers get through this match and next week's against VRA with their streak intact, the hard part of their title defence will be over. The defending champions' greatest weakness so far has been struggling to score with fluency should Lorenzo Ingram go cheaply, and ACC's exemplary ground fielding will likely compound that difficulty. That said, the Amsterdammers have generally struggled to time a tight chase effectively or see out a close defence. Discipline, a little luck and a killer instinct will be needed to stage an upset at Thurlede, but I wouldn't say that's beyond them. The undefeated Excelsior are still favourites at home, but should nonetheless be a little nervous.

Form Guide:

[Note: These tables show the results of this fixture over the past ten seasons. ‘W’ means a win for the home side, ‘L’ a defeat, ‘T’ a tie, ‘N’ no result. Matches played on the opponent’s ground or a neutral venue are shown in square brackets.]

Rod Lyall’s predictions:

VRA, Punjab, Quick, HCC, Excelsior.

Bertus de Jong’s predictions:

VRA, VOC, HBS, HCC, Excelsior.