Punjab-Ghausia kept their mathematical chance of successfully defending their Topklasse title alive on Saturday, chasing down Voorburg’s imposing 297 for seven to win by four wickets, but another rapid-fire victory for Kampong Utrecht brought them to within a two points of claiming the championship.

At the other end of the table the battle continued to tighten, with Sparta 1888 definitely relegated, but with four other sides struggling to avoid eighth and ninth spots on the table.

It had seemed for much of the day that the enthusiasts who had gathered at Maarschalkerweerd in the hope of celebrating Kampong’s first title for 33 years would be rewarded for their loyalty, as their side dismissed HCC’s challenge by soon after 3 o’clock, while Punjab faced a target of almost 300 at the Zomercomplex.

But in the end Sikander Zulfiqar’s team were equal to the task, winning with two overs to spare, and Kampong had to postpone opening the champagne for at least 24 hours, as they face a tricky visit to Craeyenhout on Sunday.

Voorburg, with one eye on the relegation threat, were given a dream start by openers Michael Levitt and Cedric de Lange, who put on 142 in barely 25 overs before Levitt fell to Khurram Shahzad for 73, and then de Lange added another 60 in company with Gavin Kaplan.

But once Shoaib Minhas had removed De Lange for 84 and Kaplan for 53 the innings sagged a little as Punjab’s spinners kept the scoring within bounds, and although hit four sixes in a 10-ball cameo of 28, the total fell just short of the psychologically-significant 300.

Musa Ahmad and Musa Ahmad responded with an opening stand of 90 before Mees van Vliet removed Minhas, but although Musa went  on to make 73 and the rest of the top and middle order chipped in, it took a thunderous knock from Fawad Shinwari, who hit five sixes in his 18-ball 41, to get the champions baack up with the rate, Sikander Zulfiqar and Shahzad dult seeing them home.

Kampong, meanwhile, had been in complete charge at Maarschalkerweerd, where Kertan Nana and Shashank Kumar reduced HCC to 34 for four inside the initial powerplay before the spinners again took over, only Boris Gorlee’s 32 and Yash Patel’s 28 not out as the Lions were bowled out for 119.

Kumar finished with three for 18, Lorenzo Ingram claimed two for 7 in seven overs, and medium-pacer Lachlan Bangs finished with the same figures in just 19 deliveries.

Max O’Dowd again went early, but Lane Berry’s quick-fire 28, Bangs’s even quicker-fire 36 and Ingram’s 7-ball 17 not out, all of them anchored by Damien van den Berg’s unbeaten 29, enabled Kampong to complete their 7-wicket victory in just 13 overs.

In the relegation tussle, Excelsior ’20 and VOC Rotterdam both kept their tenuous hold on a lifeline with precious victories.

At Thurlede, Excelsior gained their points the hard way, collapsing from 126 for two to 174 all out in their Schiedam Derby clash with Hermes-DVS, but then reducing their neighbours to 46 for five, going on to win by 15 runs.

Excelsior’s innings was dominated by Raynard van Tonder, who was at his most fluent as he put together an 80-ball 83 before he was run out by a smart piece of fielding from Ash Ostling, a key moment which triggered the side’s dramatic slump.

It was furthered by a fine spell from Sebastiaan Braat, who took four for 33, the last three for just five runs, to bring Hermes back into the game.

A rejigged Hermes batting order, however, soon collapsed in its turn, and it took a 44-run stand for the sixth wicket between Olivier Elenbaas and skipper Braat to again give them some hope.

Then Ralph Elenbaas (32) supported Braat’s 44, but the pace of Jason Ralston (two for 25) and the spin of Sam Rahaley (three for 34) and Roel Verhagen (three for 26) enabled Excelsior to squeeze home.

VOC found life a little easier at the Hazelaarweg, posting a five-wicket victory over Sparta 1888 with six overs to spare, but not before the Spartans had made they way to 221 for eight, their best total of the season.

Jochem Steenbergen, Juandre Scheepers and Lukas Boorer all contributed twenties, but it was Kyle Klesse’s patient 71 which anchored the innings, Khalid Ahmadi adding some vim towards the end with a 22-ball 27.

VOC never seemed in serious trouble in reply, Scott Janett (26) and Tim de Kok (46) putting on 69 for the first wicket before Monty Singh (52) and Jason van der Meulen (67 not out) effectively settled the issue with a fourth-wicket stand of 112, taking the Bloodhounds to within 16 runs of victory.

At Craeyenhout, HBS’s relegation worries were increased by a narrow 12-run defeat at the hands of VRA Amsterdam, for whom the win raised hopes that they might yet finish the season as runners-up.

Jack Cassidy (70) and Johan Smal (89) gave the Amsterdammers a solid platform with a second-wicket partnership of 138, and then Shariz Ahmad (28) and Patrick Gouge (32) chipped in to get their side to an imposing 275 all out.

It might have been worse for the Crows without Jayden Rossouw, who claimed his best Topklasse figures of five for 33.

Ben Fletcher removed both HBS openers by the time 34 runs were on the board, but skipper Tayo Walbrugh kept his side in with a chance, adding 88 with Lucas del Bianco (41) and then 75 with Kyle Klein, but once he was trapped in front by Peter Ruffell for 96 the innings fell away.

Klein maade 59 before becoming Fletcher’s third victim, but the VRA left-armer added the scalps of  Reece Mason and Martijn Scholte to finish with five for 39 before Ruffell closed out the innings, leaving HBS just 13 runs short.

In the Hoofdklasse, meanwhile, Bloemendaal beat ACC by 78 runs, moving level with their rivals on both points and run-rate, while Dosti’s victory over Quick Haag effectively reduced the contest to a two-horse race.

ACC, though, will have an opportunity to movee clear on Sunday with what should be a straightforward home match against bottom side VRA 2, while Bloemendaal face another tough battle against Quick at Nieuw Hanenburg.