There’s rain around leading into this weekend’s Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash Thunder Conference carnival at Orange and that means one thing – panicked cricketers desperate for answers.
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Country Cricket NSW programs manager Bruce Whitehouse has those answers, in the form of the competition’s playing conditions, specifically section 19.3.
They reveal that in the event of a completely washed out weekend, reigning champions Orana will progress to the competition finals at the SCG on December 10.
While a completely washed out weekend seems unlikely, there is a chance some games will be impacted by inclement weather, considering there is a 100 per cent chance of rain forecast for the colour city on Saturday night.
The prudent question that has arisen in the lead-up is what happens if that does occur, considering the ACT Aces and South Coast Crew have already played a game, which the former side romped home in.
Well, section 19.3 – matches abandoned: matches played at separate locations and on different dates –clarifies that exact circumstance.
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It states that “if matches are played at separate locations and on separate dates, and matches at either locations are weather affected, then 50 per cent of the total pool matches must be completed to determine a winner of the pool”.
It goes on to say that “if less than 50 per cent of the matches are completed, then the side to progress to the finals is the highest finishing side from the previous season. If those positions are equal, the side with the overall highest run rate from the previous season shall progress”.
That means that two of the five games scheduled for this weekend must get a result – five overs minimum for each side constitutes a match – to reach that 50 per cent.
If at least two games are not completed, the reigning champions will join Wagga Wagga Sloggers and Newcastle Blasters in the final four, the other place going to the winner of the Sixers Conference Coffs Harbour pool.