Cricket South Africa forced to postpone three-team match

AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada were due to lead three teams in the first match of its kind. Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi and David Miller were all also set to feature. A new date will be announced in due course

Cricket’s return in South Africa has been delayed following the postponement of the one-off three-team exhibition match that was due to take place on June 27.

AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada were due to lead three teams in the first match of its kind – 3TC (three-team cricket). Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi and David Miller were all also set to feature.

The fixture, which has been coined as the Solidarity Cup, was scheduled to take place at SuperSport Park in Centurion, comprising 36 overs and with all proceeds going to those in the cricket community who have endured hardship through the coronavirus pandemic.

However, a statement from the game’s national governing body has revealed that a new date for the event will have to be found.

“The operational teams behind the Solidarity match and event partners in collaboration with Cricket South Africa, 3TCricket and SuperSport met to consider the readiness to host the event on 27th June,” it read.

“Following this meeting, it has become clear that more work is needed in preparation including approval. A new date will be announced in due course.”

The game is split into two halves of 18 overs each, with a halftime interval. Teams bat for a 12-over period, which is split into two six-over sections, with the batting side facing each opponent for six overs. They face one opponent in the first half of the game and one in the second.

By the time halftime arrives, each team will have batted once. In the first half, teams rotate from batting to bowling to the dugout, with the order decided by a pre-match draw. In the second half, the order of batting teams is determined by the highest scores from the first half.

The game will be eight-a-side, meaning that after the fall of the seventh wicket, the last man will continue batting alone. He can only score an even number of runs, so as to retain the strike. If the seventh wicket falls in the first half, that innings ends. The last man standing would then resume his innings in the second half.

Bowlers can bowl a maximum of three overs each across the 12 overs, with one new ball to be used.

At the end of the game, the team with the most runs will win gold, followed by silver and bronze. A tie for the winner brings a super over, whereas a tie for second place sees the silver medal shared.

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