SOUTHERN ELECTRIC TWENTY20 CUP RULES AND REGULATIONS 2008 

1.         Control and Management.

The control and management of the Southern Electric Twenty 20 Cup (hereinafter referred to as "The Competition") shall be vested in the Management Committee of the Southern Electric Premier Cricket League.  The competition is to be played under the Laws of Cricket except where superseded by these Competition Rules and shall be played for the Southern Electric Twenty 20 Cup.  The cup shall not become the property of any one club.  The number competing shall be determined by the Management Committee, who will use their discretion regarding the issue of invitations for Clubs to enter the Competition.

2.         Entry Qualifications.

All competing Clubs shall be affiliated to the Hampshire Cricket Board and be a team playing regularly in Club Cricket.

3.         Playing Qualifications.

A player is entitled to play in the Competition for the Cricket Section of the Club for which he is a fully paid up member and is registered in accordance with the Southern Electric Premier Cricket League playing requirements.  See SEPCL Administration Rule 4: Eligibility of Players. However the allowance for emergency registration of Category 1 players contained in Clause 4.3.3 will not be permitted for this competition. For the purpose of this Competition the Clause shall read:-

‘No Category 1, 2 or 3 player can play in the League until confirmation of that player’s registration is received from the Registration Secretary, together with his registration number.  However a

             Category 1 Player may play providing he was registered a minimum of 7 days prior to the match in

             which he is to play.  The completed registration form must be received by the Registration Secretary

             no later than the Tuesday prior to the match or the player shall be assumed to have played illegally

and the result will go in favour of the opposition. The form can be faxed, ‘scanned & E-mailed’, or hand delivered.

4.         The Draw and Playing of Rounds.

The draw for the Competition will be made and matches played as the Management Committee may determine.  Immediately after the draw, the Competition Manager shall inform each of the clubs drawn the name of the Club it has been drawn against and the date on which the tie is to be played.  This competition shall take precedence over all other Sunday competition matches except for the National Club Competition (ECB Cockspur Cup) or the National Village Cup. Individual clubs are not at liberty to alter the dates of fixtures without the consent of the competitions Manager, whose permission will only be given in exceptional circumstances.  An inability to raise "the best" side is not a viable reason for postponement of a fixture.  The preliminary, first and second rounds of the competition will be regionalised by the Management Committee.  Thereafter any regionalisation will be vested in the control of the Management Committee.  The Club drawn first shall be the "home" team and provide the pitch.  All grounds used in the Competition shall be of an acceptable standard to the Southern Electric Premier League and be suitably equipped with adequate sightscreens.

5.         Refusals

A Club refusing, or failing to play a Club against which it has been drawn on the date fixed for that round shall be adjudged to have lost the match and may be liable to a fine not exceeding £100.  Should a Club refuse to compete or not be ready to commence play at the appointed time, they may be removed from the Competition at the discretion of the Management Committee.

6.         Umpires’ and Captains’ Responsibilities

6.1        Umpires for all rounds will be appointed by the Management Committee, via the South Coast Panel of Umpires.  It shall be the Umpires' responsibility to inform the Captains of the number of overs to be played including any reductions             necessary in the event of inclement weather or other cause of time loss. 

            Before the toss for innings the Captains shall nominate his players who may not thereafter be

            changed without the consent of the opposing Captain.

The current ECB Fast Bowling Directives will apply to all matches. Captains, Team Managers and Umpires shall be responsible for ensuring that the Directives are followed. The Captain of each side shall inform the Umpires, prior to the commencement of the match, of the names and relevant age group of any player under the age of 19 on 31st August of the previous year.

            The current ECB guidance on the wearing of helmets by players up to the age of 18 shall be followed.

6.2        Each team shall supply a competent scorer who shall not be a player in the match. If no scorer is available, the Captain will nominate one of his team players to undertake the scoring. No substitute        shall be allowed for this player, who may, however, resume his place in the nominated side, with any   resultant penalties under the Laws, if a scorer is subsequently provided.

7.         Playing Conditions.

7.1        General

7.1.1     The Official time for starting shall be 3.00pm, unless agreed differently by both the away team and the Management Committee. The Semi Finals and Final will be played at a ground and starting times to be agreed and confirmed by the Management Committee.

7.1.2     In the event of the match not being played owing to circumstances over which neither Club has control, the match will be played on a date to be arranged by the Management Committee. This will normally be on the same day of the following week.  In the event of a further postponement, the fixture shall take place

7.2                Duration

7.2.1     In an uninterrupted match each batting side shall be entitled to receive a maximum number of 20 x 6 ball overs, unless all out earlier.

7.2.2     A team shall not be permitted to declare its innings closed.

7.2.3     In an uninterrupted game the fielding side shall bowl their overs in 1hr 15mins, should either fielding side fail to bowl their 20 overs within the 1hr 15mins they will complete the remaining overs and the batting side shall be credited with 6 runs for every  whole over that has not been bowled in the allotted time. This will apply to both innings of the match. The 1hr 15mins may be extended for an interruption during play on the field due to injury or lost ball, or other unavoidable cause. The Umpires shall inform the captain of the fielding side and the batsman at crease of any increased time allowance as and when they arise.  (The Umpires decision will be final and not for negotiation)  To constitute an interruption on the field any single stoppage should be at least 2mins. Where a game is interrupted before or during due to any cause which requires the umpires to reduce the number as in (iv) below the Umpires on taking the field will inform the fielding captain of the revised time by which the overs are to be completed based on 3.75mins per remaining over to be bowled.  This shall apply to both innings on each occasion they take the field.

7.2.4     In the event of time being lost due to any cause, either prior to the scheduled start or during

a match, the Umpires, shall, if possible, adjust the length of the innings so that each batting side shall be entitled to an equal maximum number of overs which shall not be less than 10. In all matches other than the Semi Final and Final, before making any of the following calculations the Umpires shall ignore the first 30 minutes of time lost.  If 10 overs are not possible due to further time loss the match shall be abandoned.  The match shall be reduced, due to time lost, as follows:

             For every 7.5 minutes lost during the first innings the time allowed for that innings will be

reduced by 3.75 minutes and the maximum number of overs reduced by one.  The team batting second will receive the same number of overs as bowled to the team batting first unless the team batting first loses all its wickets, in which case the side batting second will receive the revised maximum number of overs.

For every 3.75 minutes lost during the second innings 1 over will be deducted from that innings.

7.2.5     The interval between innings shall be 5 minutes.

7.3        Restriction on the Placement of Fieldsmen

7.3.1     At the instant of delivery there shall not be more than five fieldsmen on the leg side.

7.3.2     For the first 6 overs only of each innings, only two fieldsmen are permitted to be outside an area

             bounded by semi-circles shall have as their centre the middle stump at either end of the pitch. The

             radius of each of the semi-circles shall be 30 yards. The ends of each semi-circle shall be joined to

             the other by a straight line drawn on the field on the same side of the pitch. The field restriction area

             should be marked by 'dots' at five-yard intervals, each 'dot' to be covered by a white plastic or rubber

             (but not metal) disc measuring seven inches in diameter.

7.3.4     For the remaining overs of each innings only five fieldsmen are permitted are permitted to be outside

              the fielding circle at the instant of delivery.

7.3.5     Two inner circles shall be drawn on the field of play.  The circles shall have as their centre point the

centre point of the popping crease at each end of the pitch.  The radius shall be 15 yards. This fielding circle shall be in the form of painted dots in front of either side of the wicket and should preferably be marked. If not marked the Umpire’s judgement shall be final. The segment of the circles reserved for slips to an angle of 45 degrees shall not be demarcated.  For the first 6 overs only of each innings there must be two stationary fieldsmen (excluding the wicket keeper) within 15 yards of the striker at the instant of delivery.  When a fast bowler is bowling the two stationary fieldsmen may be permitted to stand deeper than 15 yards (in the un-demarcated area) providing only that they are standing in the slip, leg slip or gully region.

7.3.6   Team Batting First

7.3.7          Team Batting Second

a)      Where the number of overs for the team batting second is reduced, the number of field restriction overs shall be reduced in accordance with the table above. For the sake of clarity the table shall apply to both first and second innings.

b)      Where, in an interrupted innings, on resumption the calculated number of field restriction overs (as set out above) has already been exceeded, then restrictions shall end immediately subject to c) below.

c)      If an innings is interrupted during an over, the status of that over must be retained when that over is completed.

d)      In the event of an infringement of any of the above fielding restrictions, the striker’s end Umpire shall call and signal ‘No Ball’

e)      In the event of the striker’s end Umpire failing to call and signal ‘No Ball’. When the fielding restrictions in this playing condition have been breached or when Law 41.5 has been breached (at the point of delivery, not more than two fielders other than the wicketkeeper shall be behind the popping crease on the on side), immediately the ball becomes dead the striker may draw the matter to the Umpire’s attention.  If the striker’s end Umpire is able to verify the breach he shall call and signal ‘No Ball’.  If the striker’s end Umpire is unable to verify the breach then he shall confirm that the events of the delivery shall be unchanged.

7.4      Number of Overs Per Bowler

No bowler may bowl more than four overs, however in a delayed start or interrupted match, where the number of overs are reduced for both sides or for the side bowling second, no bowler may bowl  more than one fifth of the total overs allowed (unless such a number has been bowled before the interruption), except that where the total overs are not divisible by 5, an additional over shall be allowed to the minimum number of bowlers necessary to make up the balance - eg after 8 overs have been bowled rain interrupts play such that the innings is reduced to 12 overs.  Both opening bowlers have bowled 4 overs. Two bowlers can bowl 3 over and 3 bowlers can bowl 2.  Bowlers 1 and 2 have already exceeded this limit.  They count as the two bowlers who were allowed the extra over (3 as opposed to 2) and so any other bowler is limited to 2 overs.

When an interruption occurs mid-over and on resumption the bowler has exceeded the new maximum allocation, he will be allowed to finish the incomplete over.

In the event of a bowler being incapacitated or suspended and being unable to complete an over, the remaining balls will be bowled by another bowler providing that bowler did not bowl the previous over or part thereof. Such part of an over will count as a full over only insofar as each bowler's limit is concerned.

The number of overs bowled by each individual bowler shall be recorded by the Umpires.

7.5        Laws 24.12 – No Ball – Penalty

Law 24.12 will apply except that the penalty for No Ball will be 2 runs.

7.6       Free Hit after a Foot Fault No Ball

In addition to 7.5 above, the delivery following a No ball called for a foot fault (Law 24.5) shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of No Ball or Wide Ball), then the next delivery will become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it.

For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstance that apply for a No Ball.

Field changes are permitted for free hit deliveries.

The Umpires will signal a free hit by (after the normal No Ball call) extending one arm straight upwards and moving it in a circular motion.

7.7        Law 25 - Wide Ball

In addition to Law 25, Umpires are instructed to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket and down the leg side. A penalty of one run shall be scored. This penalty shall stand in addition to any runs which are scored or awarded.

7.8        Law 31 – Timed Out

Law 31 will apply except that the incoming batsman must be in position to take guard or for his partner to be ready to receive the next ball within 1minute 30 seconds of the fall of the last wicket. The incoming batsman is expected to be ready to make his way to the wicket immediately a wicket falls and is expected to jog to the wicket.

7.9        Short Pitched Bowling

             In addition to Law 42.6 (Dangerous and unfair bowling) the following shall apply:-

There shall be no more than one delivery per that passes, or would have passed, above shoulder                 height of the striker standing upright at the crease,(But not above the head as described in Law               42.6 (a)(ii)). Should a second such ball be bowled in that over, then the umpire at the bowlers end           shall call and signal "No Ball". This ruling shall apply even though the striker has made contact with    the ball with his bat, person or equipment. The Umpire will make it clear to the bowler (and any bowler   called upon to complete an over) and the batsmen at the wicket when a delivery within this limit has          been bowled.

             Should the bowler bowl a second such ball in an over, as well as calling ‘No Ball’, the Umpire will            adopt the procedures of Law 42.7.

8.     The Ball

            One new orange Dukes quarter ball shall be used for each innings.  The balls shall be provided by the        SEPCL

9.      The Result

i)          Save as hereinafter provided a match shall be won by the team who has scored the most              runs.

ii)         In the event of overs being reduced in the second innings the winning total required shall be determined as follows:

            (a)        The number of runs scored by the team batting first shall be divided by the number of overs          which that team would have been entitled to receive after making allowance for any time lost            after the appointed commencement of the match due to inclement weather or other cause.    The resulting figure (taken to 2 decimal places) is hereinafter called the "target score".

            (b)        The run rate shall be multiplied by the lowest number of overs which the side batting

            second shall be entitled to receive after making allowance for time lost after the    commencement of that team's innings due to inclement weather or other cause.  The       resulting figure (taken to 2 decimal places) is hereinafter called the "target score".

            (c)        If a side batting second surpasses the target score at any time prior to the conclusion of its

            innings and without that team having been dismissed then the match shall be won by the    team batting second, failing which it shall be won by the team who batted first.

            (d)        A match can only be tied if the scores are equal at the end of the match and provided that no       interruptions have occurred.  In a match interrupted after the commencement, where the         revised target score involves a fraction of a run, the final scores cannot be equal and the             result cannot be a tie.

(iii)       In the event of a match ending in a tie, it will be decided as follows:

            (a)        In favour of the side having lost the fewer number of wickets.

            (b)         If still equal, then in favour of the side who has scored more runs at the completion of  8

                         overs.

10.       Notification of Results

The Home Club shall complete and forward to the Competition Manager, by email – mike.vimpany@btinternet.com – or FAX 01329 221177, the completed score sheet, by 10.00am on the day following the match.

11.       Protests and Appeals

Disputes and complaints shall be made in writing to the Competitions Manager within 48 hours of the incident or occurrence to which they refer.  The question of eligibility or qualification of competitors, interpretation of the Rules, as well as the other matters in dispute, shall be referred to the Management Committee whose decision shall be final.

12    Winning Club

The winning Club shall be presented with a pennant. The cup will remain on display in the prescribed trophy cabinets at the Hampshire Rose Bowl. In the event of the winning club holding the trophy on a temporary basis (ie immediately after the final), they must ensure it is returned within 48 hours in a clean, polished condition.  The winning club shall be responsible for the cup during that period and are to make good any damage sustained whilst in its possession.

13.        Semi-Final and Final

The venue(s) for the semi-final and final will be determined by the Management Committee. 

January 2008.