Rules - Challenge Trophy
Rules - Challenge Trophy
CHALLENGE DIVISION RULES 2021

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: In addition to these rules, the “Return to Play” guidelines established by OVCC and set out in the Appendix to the Participant Release of Liability Waiver will apply to all Challenge Division activities until further notice. All players, umpires or other participants in any OVCC games or in-person activities are subject to those guidelines.

CONCUSSION PROTOCOL: OVCC will adopt a concussion protocol to be used to determine whether a player who has suffered a blow to the head should not continue playing. While umpires are not, in most cases, medically trained, OVCC and its players acknowledge the benefit of having a neutral third party available to apply the protocol and make a determination as to whether a player may continue playing. To this end, when applying the protocol, umpires will be the sole judge of whether a player may continue. Umpires are expected to err on the side of caution, using the precautionary principle of “if in doubt, pull them out”. In the interests of player safety, preventing liability to the league, and ensuring that cricket is played in the spirit of the game, all participants must respect the umpires’ judgment. 

Match Start Delay due to lateness of players
a) Each Team must provide THREE copies of a typed or handwritten list of the team at least 20 minutes before the start of the match. If you are using the scoring APP both first and last name must appear on the list. One umpire must be present at the toss which will be held 15 minutes prior to the Official Match Start Time and the winning captain must notify his counterpart of his decision to bat or field immediately. The toss to take place only if a minimum of 7 players (inclusive of the captain) are dressed in their team uniforms and be ready to play.
  • i) If the umpires are delayed, then the Toss will be held immediately after one of the umpires arrives. The official Match Start Time will be 15 minutes after the toss. One umpire can begin the game if the second umpire is late.
  • ii) If both teams are delayed, then the toss time will be immediately after one of the teams is ready to play.
b) If a team is not ready (minimum 7 players not dressed in team colors and ready to play), then the team is considered late and may be subject to penalties (details in Penalties section below).
c) If both teams are NOT ready to play 30 minutes after the Official Match Start time of the game, then the match will be abandoned. No points will be awarded to the two teams and the game shall be added to the games played column.

Penalties
The following penalties will apply to the teams for league games:
a) If a team is not available to toss 15 minutes prior to the Official Match Start Time, then the toss is automatically awarded to the team that is ready to play. No exceptions.
b) If a team is not ready to play 30 minutes after the Official Match Start Time, then the offending team will forfeit the game and will be subject to the applicable OVCC penalty.
c) Subject to (b) above, for every 4.2 minutes, or part thereof, that a team is not ready to play after the Official Match Start Time 1 over will be deducted from their innings. Where the team which is late bowls first the end of the innings will be adjusted accordingly.
d) If the team list is not provided to the umpires 20 minutes prior to the start of play, the toss will be awarded to the team that has already provided the list on time. Changes are not allowed to the team list less than 20 minutes before the Official Match Start Time, except if the opposing captain agrees to such changes. After the toss no changes can be made to the team list.

Match Start Delay due to playing conditions and other external factors
When a match begins later than the scheduled start and the delay is due to any reason other than tardiness on the part of players, the table below will dictate playing times, intervals, length of innings and allotted overs.


 
 
First Innings Tea Duration Length of Innings Overs Allotted Maximum # of Overs per bowler  
11.00am- 2.30 pm 2.30 pm 3.00pm 3 hours & 30 minutes 50 10  
11.30pm- 2.43 pm 2.43 pm- 3.13 pm 3 hours & 13 minutes 46 1 @10, others 9  
12.00pm- 2.56 pm 2.56pm - 3.26 pm 2 hours & 56 minutes 42 2 @ 9, others 8  
12.30- 3.18 pm 3.18pm – 3.48 pm 2 hours & 48 minutes 40 8  
1.00pm - 3.27 pm 3.27pm – 3.57 pm 2 hours & 27 minutes 35 7  
2.10pm - 4.06 pm 4.06pm -4.26pm 2 Hours &
6 minutes
30 6  
2.30 pm- 4.15 pm 4.15 pm - 4.25pm  1 Hours &
45 minutes
25 5  
 
3.00 pm- 4.14pm 4.14 pm - 4.24 pm 1 hour & 24 minutes 20 4  
 
Important Reminder:
 
The tables above are a guide and not the rule. The most important factor in determining the playing time is the 4.2 minutes per over allocation. The 4.2 minutes per over calculation includes time for water breaks.
 
Tea Interval
 
When an innings ends 30 minutes or less before the tea interval, tea shall be taken immediately and the interval shall be 30 minutes only. When an innings ends more than 30 minutes before the tea interval, the change over interval shall be 10 minutes and tea shall be taken at the scheduled time for 30 minutes. 
 
 
 
Umpire Fees
The Umpire fees are $85 per team. If only one umpire is present, then the umpire fees will be $55 per team.  In case of a rain out, when not a single ball has been bowled, the fees are $25 per team. If only one umpire is present in a rained out game, then the fees will be $20 per team. Game fees go up by $10 at the start of play offs
Umpires fees must be paid at the start of the game, no exception
Exception: Only ONE umpire will be going down to games in Kingston if available. Full fees will be paid both teams to help compensate the umpire for the travel expenses. Square leg umpire will be provided by the batting side.

Time Restrictions for Overs


a)      Teams have 3 hours 30 minutes to bowl 50 overs. In the first innings, the calculation of the number of overs to be bowled shall be based on one over for every full 4.2 minutes in the total time available for play up to the scheduled close of play. In the second innings of the match, overs shall be reduced at a rate of one over for every full 4.2 minutes lost due to rain during the first innings.
b)      If the team batting second is allotted fewer overs than the team batting first, then the winning target will reduced in proportion to the reduction in the overs using the Run Rate of the team batting first or using the Duckworth Lewis Rule whichever is applicable.
 
Penalties for slow over Rates
 
a)   Team Bowling first
The team bowling first must begin the fiftieth over in no later than the last minute of their allotted time. If this is not the case, then the bowling team must complete their allotted overs but will be penalized for the extra time that they took to bowl their full quota. The extra time (in minutes) taken by the bowling team will be divided by 4.2 (minutes per over) and then multiplied by 6. This number will then be added to the score of the batting side. The on field umpires can reduce the penalty if they decide that the time delay has been caused by injury or other causes that was not the fault of the bowling side. For example, the team bowling first goes 9 minutes over their allotted time, then the umpires will calculate the penalty runs by doing the following calculation. 9/4.2*6 = 12.85 runs. There is no rounding up and the penalty applied will be 12 runs. The umpire will award the penalty by signaling to the scorer the amount of penalty to be added to the scorecard immediately at the end of the scheduled innings close time.
b)     Team Bowling Second
      The Team Bowling Second must also bowl their quota in the prescribed time. Failing to do will result in a penalty. If the team bowling second has not finished their quota overs at the end of the scheduled time for innings close, a penalty will be applied. For every over that has not been bowled, the umpire will award the batting team 6 runs.  The umpire can reduce the penalty if they decide that the time delay has been caused by injury or other causes that was not the fault of the bowling side. The umpire will award the penalty by signaling to the scorer the amount of penalty to be added to the scorecard immediately at the end of the scheduled innings close time. If the penalty results in the score of the team batting second to be higher than the team batting first, then the game is finished.

The Result
Each side must have faced (or had the opportunity to face) 20 overs** in order to constitute a match.
 ** In the case where a match is reduced to twenty (20) overs, slow over penalties will be similar to the 50 over game

Number of Overs per Bowler
Each bowler may bowl a maximum of ten overs. In a delayed or interrupted match, no bowler may bowl more than one fifth of the total overs allowed unless such a number has been exceeded before the interruption.
Bouncer allowance
There is a limit of two Bouncer per over. (Over the shoulder).  Square Leg umpire must call this every time. Third such infractions in an over will be called a NO BALL. Bouncer above the head will be called a WIDE BALL
Above the waist No-Ball
A no-ball is a full-pitched above the waist for a fast or slow bowler. If a bowler bowls more than one ball above the waist during the game, he will be taken off and will not be able to bowl again in that game. Another bowler who has not bowled the previous over will complete the over

No Ball Free Hit
The new rule now stipulates that for all infractions of NO BALL, a FREE HIT will be awarded. Example: Foot fault, above the waist balls, breaking of wickets when in bowling stride etc.
Field changes are only allowed if the non-striker is now on strike.
UNIFORM
The teams must be in their club colours. Umpires will not allow any player to take the field if they are not in their team colours. (close to the club colours will be acceptable) This rule will be strictly enforced
Home Teams Responsibilities with respect to hosting the game
Before the commencement of the game, the Home team must ensure that the ground is ready to play (matting, boundary markers, 30 yard circle, stumps and bails). Any delay in the ground not being ready at the official match start time will result in penalties for the home team. Last year there were games where home team did not have bails. Moving forward that will constitute ground not being ready and if such delays continue the team will be penalized one over for over 4.2 minute delay caused and if this persists for 30 minutes after the official start time, the offending team will forfeit the game.
NOTE:  1. All home teams must make sure markers for THIRTY YARDS CIRCLE are placed at correct distance and there should be enough markers to designate the thirty yard circle. All teams must get themselves a rope measured at THIRTY YARDS, so each time, no matter who is preparing the ground the distances will be correct
2. All teams must make sure proper crease marking of correct lengths and widths are clearly marked on the pitch. Example: Return crease should 52 INCHES from the middle stump on either side of the stumps. Wide ball guide line should be 35 INCHES from the middle stump.
Scorecard/Match Report submission
Due to issues we have had in the recent past of scores not tallying correctly, the scoring using an APP is now recommended (OVCC will provide the APP and training). In parallel paper scoring must be done as well at the same time. This will ensure accurate scoring. Bottom line is that it is sole responsibility of the teams to make sure scoring is done accurately.
If due to bad scoring which does not add up, the umpires will be the sole judges in sorting this out. Zero interference from the offending teams. No jumping on the umpires will be tolerated as it is not their fault that the scores do not match. Umpires judgment will be final. Umpires will be given the authority to write those up who start arguing with them and disciplinary action will be taken against those individuals accordingly. Both umpires will sign the score sheet
 
  NOTE: 1. Teams should make every effort to train a few members in proper way of scoring and if lessons are needed, OVCC would be happy to bring in experts to run such a seminar

Entering Scorecards Online
The Home team is responsible for entering the scorecard onto the website no later than the following THURSDAY (midnight). Failure to do so will result in penalties of $50 PER GAME NOT ENTERED

PENALTIES FOR PLAYING A PLAYER NOT ON THE LIST
The captains must do due diligence when submitting team list to the umpires. They must make sure the names match the players taking the field. In the event it is found that a player who is not on the list has taken the field, and the game is in progress, the umpires will take the following action when this infraction is discovered
  1. Ask the opposition captain if they are in favour of continuing the game minus the player not listed.
  2. If the opposition captain refuses, then the offending team will forfeit the match
 
FORFEITING A MATCH
If a team cannot raise a team and unable to full fill their obligation for a scheduled game, they must let the league know 48 hours prior to the game that they are unable to play, and also let their opposition and the umpiring chair know of the same.
Failing the 48 hour notice, the team will be fined $150 from which the two scheduled umpires will be paid their fees.
Note: The rule has always existed, but we thought to include it here for the benefit of many new players and teams
 
CHANGING OF DAMAGED BALL
Umpires will be the sole judge in determining a change of DAMAGED BALL. No interference will be accepted from either of the teams. All teams must carry extra used balls. The balls must be of the same brand as assigned by the league.

Rained Out Games
A rained out game will be result in 2 points awarded to each team.

Tied Games
A tied game will be result in 2 points awarded to each team.

Advancement into the Playoffs
Challenge Division
A win is worth 4 points. Rained out games will results in 2 points awarded to each team.
 
Net Run rate
A team's net run rate is calculated by deducting from the average runs per over scored by that team, the average runs per over scored against that team.

In the event of a team being all out in less than its full quota of overs, the calculation of its net run rate shall be based on the full quota of overs to which it would have been entitled and not on the number of overs in which the team was dismissed.
 
Power Play Rules
 
Fielding Restrictions Overs (FROs) in Power Plays for Challenge Division. New ODI rules came into existence from July 1, 2015
 
1.         POWER PLAY IS BROKEN DOWN INTO 3 COMPONENTS
 
a)         The first 10 overs of the Fielding Restrictions Overs shall be the first 10 overs of the innings. A maximum of TWO players are allowed outside the thirty yard circle and you are now NOT required to have two fielders in catching position. Must have SEVEN fielders in the circle.
 
   b)        Second Power Play: Overs ELEVEN to FORTY when you are allowed maximum of FOUR fielders outside the thirty yard circle. In other words you must have at least FIVE fielders in the circle
 
 c)        Third Power Play : Overs FORTY ONE TO FIFTY when you are allowed a maximum of FIVE fielders outside the thirty yard circle. In other words you must have at least FOUR fielders in the circle
 
d)         The rules are based on a team comprising of eleven players. Example: if a team shows up with NINE players, then they will not be allowed TWO fielders outside the circle in the first power play. This applies to all sections of the power play and is prorated on numbers of players present on the field
 
2.         In Circumstances when the number of overs of the batting team is reduced, the number of FRO (Field Restriction Overs) shall be reduced in accordance with the table below taking in consideration that there are now THREE power plays
 
 
Innings duration Number of FROs Sequence
20-21 20    4+12+4
22-24 23    5+13+5
25-28 25    5+15+5
29-31 29    6+17+6
32-34 31    6+19+6
35-38 35    7+21+7
39-41 39    8+23+8
42-44 41    8+25+8
45-48 45    9+27+9
49-50 50       10+30+10
     

3          Where, in an interrupted innings, on resumption the recalculated number of Fielding
Restriction Overs (as set out above) is no longer achievable, the actual number of Fielding Restriction Overs for that innings will be the closest achievable whole number (subject to observing 1.4 below).
 
4 Each block of Fielding Restriction Overs must commence at the start of an over.
 
DUCKWORTH LEWIS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR CHALLENGE DIVISION GAMES
The home team will be responsible for performing the necessary calculations using a laptop, mobile phone, etc. in conjunction with the umpires, who will have the ultimate responsibility for determining the score. The home team must use the APP specified by the OVCUA for this.
 
1.      LAW 3.8 FITNESS OF GROUND WEATHER AND LIGHT.
The umpire will no longer offer the light. Umpire will now be the sole arbiters of whether play should continue in poor light. Similar application will be made by the umpire in case of rain. If the stop of play was caused by rain, a game can resume if in the opinion of the umpire the conditions will not affect the players, even if there a small drizzle occurring at the time. Also note a game cannot be abandoned before 1.00 P.M. If in the opinion of the umpires that no game is possible they will make the call at 1 pm.
 
2.    LAW 24.1 NO BALL.  MODE OF DELIVERY
 A bowler won’t be allowed to cross an imaginary line between the middle stumps when  delivering, for example declaring that they were bowling over the wicket, but releasing the ball as if they are bowling round the wicket.

Bowler breaking wicket in delivering ball
 
Either umpire shall call and signal No ball if, other than in an attempt to run out the non-striker under Clause 42.11, the bowler breaks the wicket at any time after the ball comes into play and before he completes the stride after the delivery stride.
 
For the purpose of this clause, the amended definition of delivery stride from Appendix D - Laws of Cricket shall apply:
 
Delivery Stride is the stride during which the delivery swing is made, whether the ball is released or not. It starts when the bowler’s back footlands for that stride and ends when the front foot lands in the same stride. The “stride after the delivery stride” is completed when the nextfoot lands i.e. when the back foot of the delivery stride lands again.
 
 
3.     LAW 28.1 THE WICKET IS DOWN
If a batsman’s bat breaks in the act of playing a shot and the broken part of the hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, he will be out

4.      LAW 29.1 BATSMAN OUT OF HIS GROUND
A new sub section has been added to this law to protect the batsmen who is well in his ground-for example a sprinting batsman who has run past his popping crease, but whose feet and bat happen to be in the air as the bails are removed. He will now be deemed to be in.
 
5.      LAW 32. CAUGHT
Now a fielder’s first contact with the ball must be within the boundary or, if he is airborne, when his last contact with the ground was within the field of play. He may subsequently step outside the rope, but a four or six will be scored if he makes further contact with the ball whilst grounded outside the boundary.

6.      LAW 2.1 SUBSTITUTES AND RUNNERS 
No substitution (RUNNER) is allowed for a batsman under any circumstances Also note, no substitute is allowed for fielder who goes off the field for any other reason other than an injury.
 
7.  THE MATCH BALL-CHANGINS ITS CONDITION
Bowlers are forbidden from bowling the ball into ground to a teammate as a warning because MCC says this damages the ball and wastes time.
 
8. LAW 42,14 BATSMAN DAMAGING THE PITCH
A batsman who damages the pitch will get a single warning, instead of two, before penalty runs (5) are enforced to mirror the same punishment for fielders. The fielding side will be awarded 5 penalty runs, any runs scored will be disallowed and the ball will count in the over if it was a legal delivery. Penalty for No ball and wide shall count.
9.  Law 42.15 – Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery
 
Law 42.15 shall be replaced by the following:
 
The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to attempt to run out the non-striker.  Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of the over. If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal Dead ball as soon possible
 
NEW RULES AS OF OCT. 1 2017. We are incorporating some of the new rules that are being used as of Oct. 1, 2017
  • The thickness of edge of the bat cannot be more than 40mm, and the thickness of the bat must not exceed 67mm at any point.
  • Players can now be sent off by the umpires for any misconduct. such as violence on the field. All other offences would continue to be dealt with under the ICC Code of Conduct.
  • Grounding the bat or any part of his body is inside the crease but losing contact before stumps are broken will not be considered run out.
  • Batsmen can now be out caught, stumped or run-out even if the ball bounces off the helmet worn by a fielder or wicket-keeper
 
 
SPECIAL NOTE:  MATCHES PLAYED AT RIDEAU HALL TWO GROUND
As you all know there are trees and branches of trees that are inside the boundary line at this ground. To remove confusion, please note that these trees and branches are in play. In other words, if the ball hits them, it is not a boundary, unless the ball ricochet’s and crosses the boundary marker.
 
 
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE, SHOWING DISSENT or ARGUING WITH UMPIRES. IMMEDIATE RECORD OF THE INCIDENT WILL BE MADE AND FORWARDED TO LEAGUE EXECUTIVE FOR DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

WE WANT TO SEE CRICKET PLAYED IN GOOD SPIRIT AS THERE IS NO ROOM FOR BAD BEHAVIOUR IN OUR LEAGUE

Appendix A

Procedure for the One Over Per Side Eliminator (OOPSE)

The following procedure will apply if the match is tied:
  1. Subject to weather conditions the one over per side eliminator will take place on the scheduled day of the match. In normal circumstances it shall commence 10 minutes after the conclusion of the match.
  2. The one over per side eliminator will take place on the pitch allocated for the match (the designated pitch) unless otherwise determined by the umpires.
  3. Prior to the commencement of the one over per side eliminator each team elects three batsmen and one bowler.
  4. The nominated players are given in writing to the umpires.
  5. The umpires shall stand at the same end as that in which they finished the match.
  6. The umpires shall choose which end to bowl and both teams will bowl from the same end.
  7. Each team’s over is played with the same fielding restrictions as those that are in place for the last over of a normal Challenge match.
  8. The team batting second in the match will bat first in the one over per side eliminator.
  9. The same ball (or a ball of a similar age if the original ball is out of shape or lost) as used at the end of the team’s innings shall be used for the extra over.
  10. The loss of two wickets in the over ends the team’s one over innings.
  11. If both teams have the same score after the one over per side eliminator has been completed, additional overs are played in accordance with the procedure set out in this Appendix until one team scores more runs in the over than the other team. The team scoring more runs shall be the winner