Quarter Final | BCF League 2025 Division 1 | RBCC vs Hasselt Cricket Club
đź”— Match Scorecard
On a tense quarter final day in the Cricket Belgium Division 1, RBCC 1st XI rode on determined lower-order grit and icy nerves in the field to claim an epic five-run win over Hasselt Cricket Club. With a semi-final berth on the line, Brussels supporters turned up in numbers to witness one of the games of the season in the BCF League 2025.
Royal Brussels Cricket Club: 208 all out (45.3 overs)
After winning the toss, RBCC-1’s innings was a see-saw of setbacks and comebacks. Hasselt’s bowlers—led by Ainuddin Zakhel (3/33)—exploited early nerves as openers Muneeb Muhammad and Afzal Safi fell within the first eight overs. A composed knock from Mustafa Mamond (28 off 36, 2 fours, 1 six) supplied brief calm, but when he was forced to retire out, the innings tottered again at 57/4.
Middle-order rally and the tale of two partnerships
The middle overs belonged to Taha Choudhry (33 off 52, 7 fours), who doggedly rebuilt, and then to a vital partnership between Nayhan Khalil (49 off 66, 7 fours) and Sairab Zahid (37 off 52, 3 fours). Coming together at 130/7, this pair lifted RBCC to a competitive 183 before Khalil was bowled agonisingly close to a half-century.
End Scramble
Wickets tumbled at the end—Waqas Raja (2/29) and Gurwinder Singh Parhar (2/49) capitalised to bowl out RBCC with 4.3 overs unused. However, 27 wides from Hasselt were a boon for Royal Brussels on a day where every run would count.
Hasselt Cricket Club: 203 all out (38.3 overs)
Set 209 for victory in a knockout match, Hasselt’s reply was full of intent, with early aggression from the top order. However, regular wickets, sharp catching and composed bowling pegged back the innings at crucial intervals.
With the chase poised at 130/7 mirroring RBCC’s earlier troubles, the Hasselt lower order mounted a spirited resistance. Partnerships threatened to take the game away as tension mounted with every run scored and wicket lost. When the 9th wicket fell at 202, the match was on a knife edge.
Turning Points — Two Key Moments for Royal Brussels
- Brilliant Run Out: With Hasselt building momentum, a crucial run out from AbdulWahid and Afzal Safi saw Waqas Raja caught short of his ground—an electric team effort that shifted the pressure back on Hasselt.
- Diving Catch for the Ages: Earlier, Nayhan Khalil pulled off a spectacular diving catch to dismiss none other than Cricket Belgium national captain Sheryar Butt off Oliver Herrington’s shrewd bowling, a moment befitting the game’s high stakes and swinging the momentum towards RBCC.
The Final Dramatic Twist
Just six required, one wicket in hand. Ricky and wicket keeper Safi Afzal held their nerve, and fittingly, the final wicket sparked scenes of jubilation for Royal Brussels as the club supporters erupted—a five-run victory and a ticket to the Division 1 semis.
RBCC 1st XI progress to the Cricket Belgium Division 1 semi-finals, delivering one of the most memorable wins in club history—a testament to the fighting spirit and fielding brilliance at the heart of this side. Stay tuned to Royal Brussels Cricket Club and Cricket Belgium for more league and knockout action.
