SECTION RULES AND REGULATIONS For GIRLS LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP CRICKET
 (These should be read in conjunction with the General Rules & Regulations)

1.1.   Objective and procedure.
a) The Executive shall determine the format of a Girls league, when the number of teams participating is known. It shall define fixture dates and the status of all matches to be played, which may include a mixture of championship and friendly matches.
See Fixture schedule on page 59 for details
b) A pre-match day discussion shall be held between team managers to reach an understanding on the age group structure of both teams so as to ensure there is reasonably even matching of players ability/ skill level.
c)  Boundaries shall be arranged to provide a playing area with a radius of approximate 35 yards e.g. measured from the wicket ends and centre of the pitch
d) The top four teams, in the championship, will take part in two Semi-Finals with the winners of those matches required to play-off for the “Geoff Lowe Girls Championship” trophy. If teams finish level on points the team to be placed highest in the league table shall be determined by the result of the championship match played between them. If this method is inconclusive the Executive will make a calculation, to establish which team has the greater average net run differential in respect of all completed matches. This will take into account the total number of net runs accrued divided by the total of net runs conceded.
The top two teams will be seeded not to play each other in the Semi-Finals

1.2.   Conduct of Play.
a) The pitch shall measure 21 yards in length. 

b) The ball, in championship matches, shall be of a “hard” cricket type that is quartered and weighs 4¾ oz.
So far as friendly matches are concerned, prior agreement may be reached, between managers before the match date, to use a “soft” ball of an agreed type, which must be used by both teams

c) A match to be one innings per side, each innings to be sixteen (16) overs.

d)  Each side shall, normally, have eight players.
e) Each batting side shall commence its innings with a score of 200 runs.
f)  The batting side shall be divided into pairs, each batting four (4) overs and changing at the end of the fourth, eighth and twelfth over.
g)  When batting players shall have unlimited “lives” but each fall of wicket shall result in eight (8) runs being deducted from the total. They shall change ends at the fall of each wicket, except on the last ball of an over.
h)  Each player on the fielding side, except the wicket keeper, must bowl.
No player shall bowl more than three (3) overs.                                                                                                                   Wicket keepers not to be changed during an innings without good reason e.g. injury/ illness.

i)  A match is still valid if a team comprises only 7 players, provided the opposing team manager selects the player who will complete the fourth pairing. The player so selected shall be allowed to bat as normal.
j)  The penalty for a “Wide ball” and “No ball” delivery shall be two (2) runs and such a delivery
shall count as one of the over e.g. an additional ball shall not be bowled. This modification shall apply to all overs, except the last over of each innings,

k) Either umpire shall call and signal “No ball” if a delivery bounces three or more times, or rolls along the    ground, before it reaches the popping crease.
l)   Either umpire shall call and signal “Dead ball” if a delivery comes to rest in front of the line of the striker’s wicket, without any intervention by the striker. The bowler shall be allowed another delivery.
m) A bowler who may appear to have an unfair, or unusual, bowling arm action shall not be “no balled” on account of this nor shall she receive any official warning or be subjected to any humiliating comments or gestures. The umpire making the observation(s) shall bring the matter to the immediate attention of his/her colleague. There is no requirement to involve the captains of either side. The bowler’s Team Manager shall be informed, at the first convenient break in play, and the matter shall be referred to the League by comment on the result sheet.

n) A non-turf pitch may be used provided
        i)          the visiting Team Manager is advised prior to the scheduled match date OR
        ii)         the prepared turf pitch has been declared unfit by the umpires and both Team Managers agree to play the match                     on an artificial surface

The winning team shall be the side scoring the higher number of runs after deductions for the fall of wickets (recorded as the “net total”). When the net total scores are equal in the Semi-Final or Final stages the team with the highest gross total will be the winner. If inconclusive a “bowl out” shall be arranged to decide