League Competition Rules

55. In the first innings, the final over to be bowled shall have started no later than 2 hours and 40 minutes after the scheduled start time. The final over in the second innings shall be bowled no later than 2 hours 40 minutes after the second innings has begun. If play is still continuing at 2 hours 40 minutes then the umpire(s) shall remove the bails and call time. In the event that the game has not been concluded then the winners of the game shall be decided by use of Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) on the Play-Cricket Scorer App (see Rule 46(b)). Umpire(s) will award penalty runs, if they see fit, for slow play by either side, as per the laws of cricket.

56. No bowler to bowl more than ten overs in a League match. If the overs are reduced at the start of a match the over allocation to be calculated by dividing the number of overs to be played by four and any remaining overs to be added at one extra over per bowler. Once a match has started there shall be no further reductions to a bowler’s allocated overs. This does not apply in respect of late start forfeited overs.

57. The team scoring most runs in a completed match shall receive 30 match points. For completed matches where the score is tied by runs scored, each team shall receive 15 match points. The losing team in a completed match shall not receive any match points. For incomplete matches where the game has been abandoned without the minimum number of overs being bowled, each team shall receive 20 match points. In addition, for completed matches only, bonus points shall be awarded in both innings as follows: 5 bonus points for batting and 5 bonus points for bowling. These shall be allocated as follows: 1 bonus point for each 30 runs scored up to a maximum of 5 bonus points for 150 runs scored. Any batting points not achieved shall be allocated to the opposing team. If in the second innings the team pass their opponents score, they will receive the maximum 5 bonus points. For bowling: 1 bonus point for every 2 wickets taken up to a maximum of 5 bonus points for 10 wickets taken. Any bonus points not achieved shall be awarded to the opposing team. In the event of a team failing to fulfil a fixture the offending team shall not receive any match or bonus points and the non-offending team shall receive 40 match points only (no bonus points). The bonus points for the first innings must be entered onto the scoresheet before the commencement of the second innings, and the remaining bonus points calculated and entered onto the scoresheet at the end of the match. If a team declares then the bowling team will automatically receive all five bonus points for bowling. As per Rule 48 a further bonus point can be awarded by the Play-Cricket Administrator to teams who score their innings online via the Play-Cricket Scorer App.

58. A team playing an ineligible player(s) will have maximum points deducted for each match in which such an offence occurs. In addition to the deduction of points the League Discipline Committee has the power to award points to the non-offending team dependent on the circumstances.

59. The League shall be constituted into Divisions. The number of teams per Division to be agreed at the AGM each year. The winners of Division 1 shall be the League Champions. The bottom two teams in Division 1 shall be relegated (irrespective of any resigned teams) and replaced by the top two teams in Division 2. Where teams finish with the same number of points then final league positions will be decided firstly on head to head record between the two teams, secondly by highest number of outright wins (excludes wins when the opposition conceded), and finally by run/wicket average across the season. For clubs with two teams, the first team shall determine the League Divisional placing, as no club shall have more than one team in any Division unless the teams are subject to separate player registration. The Fixture Secretary shall organise teams below the first Division into suitable competitive Divisions and shall organise cup competitions subject to the approval of the League Executive Committee (no new teams may be entered directly into the first division, as per rule 9a).

60. In all Divisions the qualification for the batting average prize shall be 200 runs and the bowling average qualification shall be 20 wickets. In each instance players must have batted or bowled in half the League matches per the fixture list. Only League matches to qualify. In the event of no qualifiers, the League Match Secretary shall nominate the best performance by a player in that category, and this nomination shall be final. Awards shall be made in each Division for best all-rounder, most catches, most wicket-keeper dismissals and most run-outs (fielder). Qualification for these awards to be half the number of League matches. Appearances as an umpire shall count to all qualifications. Prizes shall only be awarded to players whose statistics are available on the GMACL section of the ECB Play Cricket Website.