[by the editors/MvO] In their Preview Round 6 of the Top class matches Rod Lyall and Bertus de Jong analyze Sunday's Big Amsterdam Derby ACC1-VRA1. Again on a scorching hot day. The T20 encounter recently was a deception on Het Loopveld, primarily caused by the unleashed Dutch team player Ben Cooper from VRA. Our good neighbours have been weakened by the absence of Peter Borren who injured his finger badly during that match. Nevertheless, the mentioned cricket journalists both predict another gain for VRA. If that is not an incentive to come and cheer at Het Loopveld on Sunday ... Time for revenge, I'd say! PS You can read Rod & Bertus other match reviews and predictions here at TKcricket.
Rod Lyall: One of the longest-standing derbies in Dutch cricket, the game between ACC and VRA Amsterdam at Het Loopveld is all the more intriguing this year because of the youthfulness of the two sides. This is not new for the hosts, whose team has for a couple of seasons past, in addition to the now-departed Zulfiqars, featured – at some cost to its results – teenagers like Shirase Rasool, Aryan Kumar, Jamieson Mulready, Ammar Zaidi and Shreyas Potdar. Now Rasool has crossed the Buitenveldertselaan to join VRA, but several of his peers are playing an increasingly significant role in a reconstructed side and have now been joined by Mees van Vliet. VRA, of course, have a rising star in Vikram Singh, stand-in captain last week in the absence of the injured Peter Borren and now developing an opening partnership with Rasool.
But with seamer Ashir Abid, allrounder Debrup Dasgupta and left-arm spinner Luke Hartsink all enjoying some success, this match could be a forerunner of Amsterdam derbies for years to come.
Bertus de Jong: The injury that Borren acquired at the two team’s last meeting in the T20 comp last week will likely keep him out for the rest of the season, but given what else happened that game that’ll be of little comfort to the hosts. Their main memory will be Ben Cooper making runs for fun against a promising but still raw young attack, who will have to raise their game if they are not to repeat the experience. Having poached Rasool, VRA have the edge in terms of properly-blooded youngsters too.
ACC have done better this season than many had expected, but a win over their neighbours would nonetheless be a serious upset – but doubtless one they will be reminding their rivals of for years to come should they pull it off.