[by the editor/MvO] Oh dear, the learned cricket couple, writers Bertus de Jong and Rod Lyall, both tip ACC1 to lose again on Sunday, this time from visitors Sparta. However, they expect us to put up a good fight, so may be... In fact, I myself expect ACC to win on Sunday, the first victory, so come and watch! ACC really needs a win. As both gentlemen write on their great site TKcricket: ‘’As we look ahead to round three the table is already starkly divided between winners and losers, with five teams undefeated and five yet to put a point on the board.’’ See their ACC-Sparta preview below, literally taken from their Round 3 Preview on TKcricket where all match-previews can be found for the Topklasse.
Bertus de Jong: At the top of the table by virtue of net run rate are Sparta 1888 courtesy their demolition of VOC last week, though their position remains somewhat precarious as a wash-out at Thurlede in the opening round means their lead is based only on that single game. They take on the still-winless ACC on Sunday away at Het Loopveld and will be looking to consolidate against an experimental Amsterdam side that’s missing the majority of their 2019 first XI.
Nonetheless the Amsterdammers can be expected to put up stiffer resistance than did VOC last week, with the new opening pair of Burnett and McInerney having shown their quality in the first game, and Ramesh and Potdar demonstrating that the middle order is not entirely hollowed out when the new openers failed last week. Sparta remain favourites going into the game, but expect a closer contest than we saw on Sunday.
Rod Lyall: Poor as VOC were last Sunday, the Sparta bowlers were seriously impressive on their own patch, getting good movement and never easing the pressure through the 24 overs of their opponents’ innings. Het Loopveld is another venue which is traditionally bowler-friendly, and they will go into this game with plenty of confidence; as m’learned colleague observes, however, ACC are likely to be less of a pushover than VOC, especially if Burnett and McInerney manage to avoid the fate that befell them at Voorburg.
If 2020 is mostly a nursery for the future, it is the growing maturity of players like Sparta’s Max Hoornweg and ACC’s Shreyas Potdar which is the most significant feature of this season, and their fortunes will be followed closely on Sunday and beyond
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