Delays & Stoppages

LATE STARTS (League Rule 33)
Unless eight players of any team are ready to play at the appointed start time, the umpires shall report the defaulting club to the League Secretary and the game shall not commence until the requisite number of players are present. If the match goes ahead with a late start the offending club will be fined £25 for the delay as indicated by the match umpire(s). Overs shall be deducted as described in rule 26 (one over for every three minutes)

If eight players from a side are still not available 45 minutes after the scheduled start time the umpires will abandon the match and report the matter to the League Secretary. The offending team will be deducted 20 league points and their opponents will receive 20pts (10 match points plus 5 batting and 5 bowling bonus points). If the offending team are the away side, they will have to compensate their opponents for eight teas plus any umpires and scorers’ fees, provided the claim is submitted by the home side to the League Secretary within five days of the scheduled fixture and approved as meeting the requirements of this rule. On receiving the approved amount of costs, the offending team will be given seven days to reimburse their opponents. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a charge under Rule 47.

WEATHER CONDITIONS (League Rule 26)
The two captains shall decide if conditions are suitable for the match to start, and if they cannot agree, the umpires shall decide. After play has commenced, the umpires shall be the sole judges as to the continuation or resumption of the match.

If a prepared pitch is deemed unfit for the scheduled start of play by the captains and umpires they can request that another pitch is prepared, which must then be used provided weather conditions allow. All efforts should be taken to ensure that the game is played.

Delayed starts: Where weather delays the start of the match, overs will be deducted at one for every three minutes lost. The number of overs lost will be deducted from the total match overs and the balance split equally between the two teams. If the number of overs lost is an odd number, it must be rounded up.

Example: Delay 39 minutes, overs lost 13, so the match will be a 43-overs a side contest.

A match cannot commence if more than 60 overs have been lost. The the minimum length of game permissible is 20 overs per side after a delayed start.

Interruptions
Once play is under way in all games there is a cumulative allowance of 30 minutes for stoppages for rain, bad light or other adverse conditions when no overs will be deducted. Once the stoppages have exceeded 30 minutes overs will be deducted at the rate of one for every three minutes lost.

Example: Stoppages of 12 minutes, 13minutes and 17 minutes means a total of 42 minutes lost. After deducting the 30-minute allowance the time loss from which overs will be deducted is 12 minutes meaning four overs will be deducted.

No overs shall be deducted during the tea interval but any stoppage before the interval shall be added on to any stoppage after the interval should the same team be batting.

If any stoppage is for sun, no overs shall be deducted however long the interruption. The umpires shall remain on the field of play during the stoppage.

For Premier Division First XI only:

Once the cumulative total of 30 minutes for interruptions has been reached, overs will be deducted at the rate of one for every three minutes lost and the Duckworth Lewis Stern method will be used to calculate the result.
A minimum of 20 overs must be bowled in the second innings for ten points to be awarded for a win unless a victory is achieved sooner by a team reaching its target or being bowled out.
Where scores finish level, the match is tied irrespective of wickets lost, and each side will receive five points plus any bonus points.
If a win is not achieved as in 2 above, the match is considered ‘abandoned or incomplete’ and three points will be awarded to each side together with any bonus points accrued.
A delayed start or interruptions during the first innings means the loss of overs is split equally between the two sides ie loss of 20 overs, split 10 each, becomes a 40 overs per side game.
Where there is a delayed start or a stoppage leading to a reduction of overs during the first innings, under no circumstance must the side batting first bat 50 overs. (It is worth noting that when there is a loss of overs in the first innings, umpires will be reducing the length of the game).
Loss of overs in the second innings are simply deducted from the allocation of the side batting second leading to a revised target. Umpires MUST detail the length of all stoppages to the scorers who will use the DLS programme to calculate the target scores and print off the required five copies.
Scorers must print off the DLS sheets at the tea interval in all games, even when there is no adverse weather.

Click for guide to Duckworth Lewis Stern

All other Divisions

Once the cumulative total of 30 minutes has been reached overs will be deducted at the rate of one for every three minutes.
In a match which has commenced and is then affected by the weather, providing the second side batting receives an equal number of overs or more than the side batting first and providing that a minimum number of 40 overs are available when the match commences, a ten-point win can be achieved.
Where there is an imbalance of overs in favour of the side batting first, the ten points for a win can only be awarded if they bowl out their opponents or if their score is beaten by the side batting second.
Where scores finish level, the match is tied irrespective of wickets lost, and each side will receive five points plus any bonus points.
In all other circumstances the match is considered ‘abandoned or incomplete’ and three points will be awarded to each side together with any bonus points accrued.
Full league rules