3 Teams, 36 Overs but Single match

While each cricketing boards, have announced their resumption of cricket while some had started practicing, South African Cricket Board were been so silent. I was so eagerly waiting to hear any kind of news about resumption of cricket in South Africa. But, as we waited, there were three great news from Cricket South Africa. They have announced via twitter that from June 27, Solidarity Cup will be featuring. This might be the first cricket match Post COVID_19 Pandemic. Also, a new experiment featuring 3 teams in a single match !

Solidarity Cup is a name given to the match, they are going to preceed with featuring only 36 overs(whole match). You might wonder, that it is 18 overs per side. But, it is not. It's 12 overs per side. You also would be asking, if its 6 overs, then it would be 24 overs total match, and where is the rest of 12 overs?
It is a three team, single match, meaning that all the three teams would be featuring in the single match. How can it be possible ?

South Africa have announced three teams comprising 8 players per team. It would be split into two halves, 18+18 overs respectively. Each team would be playing 6 overs in the first half and 6 overs in the next half. How ?? For Example, take teams as A, B and C. A vs B, 1st match, B vs C, 2nd match and C vs A, 3rd match respectively. A team is batting against B team for 6 overs in the first match, B batting against C and C batting against A in the first halves each 6 overs respectively. In the second half, another set of 18 overs, it would be based on highest runs scored, deciding which team would bat, bowl. If all teams gets tied, the existing team order would be reversed.

Similar format to tri series played at gully cricket. Also, each bowler can bowl maximum of 3 overs and awards are given based on highest runs scored with first getting old, while second and third getting silver and bronze. If all three teams score same runs, Gold is provided to all of them, whereas if the last two teams score same amount of runs, a super over game is alloted, and if there the result is the same, Silver is provided to both the teams.

Another rule is that, unlike regular cricket format, here is a last man standing wicket provided, which is the 7th wicket. Even a single batsman can play an innings. But there are few check points in it. One is if the last man standing came in the first half, the innings would be closed, but in the second half he should resume the innings of his respective team. Also, he can score only in even numbers like Fours, Sixes and twos, as non retaining of strike requires another player which is impossible. Also, at the first half, the balls bowled after last man standing will be considered as dot balls, and it would be added as dot balls to the bowlers.

Also, each bowling team would be given the new ball. This match will also feature in empty stadiums, just to be safe from the awake of corona pandemic

De Cock, De Villiers and Rabada has been given captaincy to three teams respectively. Yes, it is another great news that Ab De Villiers would be featuring in this Providence Cup match. De Cock would be leading the team Kites, Kagiso Rabada has been been appointed Captain for Kingfishers while AB De Villiers will lead Eagles team.

Kingfishers Squad: Rabada (c), Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Faf Du Plessis, Henrich Klassen, Chris Morris, Gelnton Stuuman, Tabraiz Shamsi

Kites Squad : De Cock (c), Temba Bavuma, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Duwaine Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje

Eagles Squad : De Villiers (c), Aiden Markram, Rassie Vander Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Andile Phelukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Junior Dala, Lungi Ngidi

So, Just 9 days remaining for this awesome new way experience cricketing action. Just lock the date 27th June, and the end of cricket shutdown is very close. Stay Home and Stay Safe. Be secured in a protected, closed environment.