Tim David announces his arrival in Dutch Hoofdklasse

Singapore international Tim David made a spectacular entry to the Dutch Hoofdklasse (Second Division) on Saturday, hitting 152 from just 95 deliveries as Quick Haag ran up 366/6 and beat Schiedam side Hermes-DVS by 214 runs.

Coming in at 35/3, David hit 10 fours and no fewer than 13 sixes in his innings, dominating stands of 91 with former Dutch international Geert Maarten Mol (39) and 124 with Jeroen Brand (27).

Once he was sixth out with the total on 276, further agony was inflicted on the suffering Hermes bowlers by Mol’s elder brother Henk, making another return from retirement to contribute a 28-ball 47 not out, and youngster Govert Trappenburg (44 not out, also from 28), who added 90 in eight overs.

Despite 61 from another Dutch international, Sebastiaan Braat, Hermes-DVS had no answer, David picking up three for 17, including the wicket of Braat, as they were dismissed for 152.

The presence of Singapore-born, Perth-based David, who played for the Hobart Hurricanes in last season’s Big Bash League, and the PSL after its restart, will send a chill through Quick Haag’s Hoofdklasse rivals, and is a sign of how determined the Den Haag club are to return to the Dutch top flight.

With no relegation from the Topklasse this year – a response to the limited availability of overseas professionals due to the pandemic – next year’s top division will be expanded to twelve teams, which means that there are two promotion places on offer and Quick, who were relegated from the top flight in 2019 and are celebrating the 125th anniversary of their foundation, are evidently keen to make sure of one of them.

Their rivals include Kampong Utrecht, Salland Deventer (for whom Talha Khan hit a century in their victory over VVV Amsterdam on Saturday, sharing a stand of 110 with fellow German international Hamid Wardak, who made 97) and Rood en Wit Haarlem, as well as Hermes and VVV, both of whom seem certain to have many better days.

David was also signed up for the Chitwan Tigers for the 2020 Everest Premier League before the tournament was postponed.

Follow the exploits of Tim David and more European domestic action here at emergingcricket.com.

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