The band of rain which swept across the Netherlands on Saturday washed away the season’s perfect record of uninterrupted cricket, with only 7.1 overs possible in one match and the other four abandoned without a ball being bowled.

They got a start in the Amsterdamse Bos, where Tayo Walbrugh lost the toss and HBS were invited to bat by Teja Nidamanuru.

Tobias Visée played one of his microcameos, punching the second ball he received from Peter Ruffell strongly to the point boundary and then playing an awkward, unbalanced defensive stroke to the next, inside-edging through to keeper Jack Cassidy.

Lucas del Bianco and Walbrugh were still at the crease, the total on 39, when the arrival of the rain drove the players from the field, although the HBS captain had perhaps been a little fortunate to survive a tight run-out decision, a direct hit from midwicket coinciding with his desperate dive at the non-striker’s end.

The captains optimistically tossed at the Bermweg, where Tim de Kok called correctly and elected to field, but the only action thereafter was Sparta playing sweeping accumulated water from the covers, and the game was eventually abandoned.

By that time the other three had already been called off, all ten teams taking a point from their frustrating day.