The two Amsterdam sides won again on Ascension Day, but it was a day of disappointment for Rood en Wit, who failed by two runs to register their first win of the season.

VRA, ACC open up a gap at the top

A survey of top international players has backed the associate nations in their bid to qualify for the 2015 World Cup.

International players overwhelmingly back Associate participation

Ireland will have two more one-day internationals against Namibia ahead of their next major test, against Sri Lanka on July 11.

Namibia next for Ireland

Skipper William Porterfield believes the emergence of young players likes Paul Stirling proves that Irish cricket is on the rise.

Porterfield predicts bright future for Ireland

Restructuring the KNCB’s organisation demands that everyone involved in the game unites around an agreed vision of Dutch cricket’s future.

Dutch cricket needs to pull together to survive

Thursday’s Ascension Day Topklasse matches again feature some promising encounters, with a derby in Den Haag and Hermes-DVS the second Schiedam side to visit the Amsterdamse Bos in five days.

Ascension Day holiday programme has much to offer

Pakistan legend Waqar Younis joined the Paul Stirling fan club yesterday and tipped the 20-year-old for great things.

Waqar Younis joins Paul Stirling fan club

Kevin O’Brien now has some competition for Irish innings of the year. But the fundamental difference between his epic against England and Paul Stirling’s hundred against Pakistan yesterday is that the Irish won the World Cup encounter

Stirling brilliance illuminates Stormont

The programme has not yet been published, but the Dutch Twenty20 Cup gets under way this week – with a completely new structure.

‘It’s the T20 Cup, Jim, but not as we know it’

A big hitting fifth wicket partnership between Younus Khan and Umar Akmal handed Pakistan a 5 wicket win and a clean sweep of the RSA Series at Stormont, Belfast.

Khan and Akmal lead Pakistan to victory

Victories for VRA Amsterdam and ACC saw them stay at the head of the Topklasse, with Hermes-DVS losing in the final over to Quick Haag.

Quick topple Hermes, but Amsterdam sides take command

A much improved performance from Afghanistan, but Pakistan A still win the third match in the series.

Pakistan A complete Afghanistan whitewash

Ashish Bagai has stepped down as captain of Canada, but will still continue to play for the team.

Bagai stands down as Canadian skipper

Ireland give themselves chance of another upset as they post 238 for 8 against Pakistan

Stirling century gives Ireland hope

Limavady too strong for The Hills, but Fisher underlines Irish credentials with match winning 95 for Railway Union against Strabane.

Honours even in Irish Cup clashes

Ireland captain William Porterfield’s reaction to a poor batting display as Ireland lost to Pakistan by seven wickets.

Porterfield saddened by batting failure

Ireland’s cricketers were beaten by seven wickets in a low scoring game by Pakistan in the first of the RSA One-Day Internationals (ODI) at a damp and windy Stormont in Belfast.

Ireland crushed by ruthless Pakistan

It was a birthday to remember for Misbah ul Haq as he captained Pakistan to a crushing 7 wicket defeat of Ireland in the first game of the RSA Series at Stormont.

Pakistan too strong for disappointing Ireland

It was embarrassingly one-sided and Ireland’s hopes of convincing the ICC Board that there should be a qualifying competition ahead of the next World Cup finals took a further blow.

No contest as Pakistan crush Ireland

UMAIR Mohammed is ready to give former team mates Dougie and Henry Philip a hard time on the field – then rekindle their friendship after, he hopes, a Forfarshire triumph.

Mohammed relishing challenge

Kelburne star Steve McLister last night revealed his shock and delight after earning a surprise call-up to the Western Warriors side.

McLister delight at call up

A look at a packed SNCL schedule with plenty of Scottish internationals on show.

Carlton face Watsonians in game of the day

Ed Joyce returns to home soil in an Irish shirt at a ground which has some happy memories for him.

Stormont happy hunting ground for Joyce

The Western Warriors take on the Caley Highlanders this Sunday (29 May) in a top of the table Regional Series battle at Uddingston’s, Bothwell Castle Policies, starting at 12 Noon.

Regional Series continues at Uddingston

The KNCB has announced an agreement with the ECB that the Orange Lions will again play in the English 40-over competition in 2012.

Dutch to continue in CB40 for at least another year

The inconsistent form of Excelsior 20 has been one of the early talking-points in the Topklasse, but their match against VRA on Sunday could be a classic.

Excelsior travel to Amstelveen with plenty to prove

As Ireland’s two match series against Pakistan looms ever closer, John Kenny speaks to one of Ireland’s hero’s from their memorable World Cup campaign, and also holder of the fastest World Cup century, Kevin O’Brien.

O’Brien looking to set new records

BoomBoom becomes the official kit supplier to Irish international teams and the exclusive global merchandising partner to Cricket Ireland.

Cricket Ireland and BoomBoom announce new kit deal

Victory over England at the last World Cup is, rightly, regarded as Irish cricket’s greatest day but Andrew White insists that the win over Pakistan in 2007 still deserves its place in history.

White relishing Pakistan rematch

Shahid Afridi, one of Pakistan’s most exciting cricketers, will not be in Belfast this weekend for the two RSA Series one-day internationals against Ireland at Stormont.

Ireland face uphill struggle despite Afridi withdrawal

A mostly poor batting display sees Afghanistan lose their first match against Pakistan A.

Batting costs Afghanistan series opener

Former Pakistan one-day captain Shahid Afridi has pulled out of the two-match series in Ireland, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced.

Afridi pulls out of Ireland games

As the KNCB works on a new strategic plan, circumstances demand an ambitious approach to playing numbers.

Dutch cricket needs to pitch high in the numbers game

Scotland pushed unbeaten Northants all the way at the County Ground yesterday before falling to their seventh straight CB40 defeat.

Vaas punishes Saltires

Stevie Gilmour played down one of the best knocks of his career at the weekend and diverted the praise towards Carlton stalwart Cedric English.

Centurions help Carlton crush Grange

After several seasons in the doldrums, SMRH are building a squad that can mount a meaningful challenge for honours.

SMRH serious title contenders

A new dimension was added to CricketEurope’s Dutch coverage at the weekend, with the inauguration of an HCC ClubZone, making the Haagse the first Topklasse club to be featured in this way.

HCC breaks new ground in partnership with CricketEurope

VRA had the better of a match which produced 599 runs at Nieuw Hanenburg on Sunday, but the shock of the day was VOC’s dismissal of Excelsior ’20 for 124.

VOC shock Excelsior, while VRA’s batsmen run riot

Hand injury forces Niall O’Brien out of Ireland squad – replaced by Andrew Poynter.

O’Brien withdraws from Ireland squad

Ireland coach Phil Simmons faces an anxious wait over the fitness of wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien ahead of next weekend’s two ODI’s against Pakistan.

O’Brien doubtful for Pakistan clashes

The Dutch A side registered two victories over France in Utrecht on Saturday, with leg-spinner Vinoo Tewarie claiming seven for 25 in the day.

Netherlands A claim two T20 wins over France

Pete Steindl, the Saltires coach, last night paid tribute to Gregor Maiden who has become the latest Scot to reach the 100-cap landmark.

Steindl praises Maiden century

Another action packed weekend in store in the SNCL Premier league and Championship.

Drumpellier face Uddingston in crunch clash

Ireland Coach Phil Simmons believes his side must seize the opportunity to send a strong message to the game’s governing body when they host Pakistan in two One-Day Internationals.

Simmons stresses need to send message to ICC

The clash between ACC and HCC is top of this week’s bill, but all four games promise absorbing cricket as the leading sides try to gain an early advantage.

Points at a premium as Topklasse battle develops

Scotland announces their squad that will travel to take on the Northants Steelbacks.

McCallum misses Northants clash

Nial McDonnell only uncapped player in squad of 14 for RSA Series against Pakistan.

Ireland name squad for Pakistan ODI’s

A scampered second run off the final ball of the match rescued a tie for Derbyshire against the Netherlands.

Falcons return temporarily to the summit

A belligerent 41 from Mudassar Bukhari and four wickets for Shane Mott were the highlights of the match in Deventer, but it was a fine Dutch team effort which saw the game finish with the scores level.

Battling Dutch pull off a tie against Derbyshire

Pete Steindl takes the positives from Scotland’s performances in the CB40 campaign despite five consecutive defeats.

Steindl far from despondent despite another loss