No super over in the group stages of 'The Hundred'

‘The Hundred’ has managed to grab eyeballs ever since its launch – right from the marquee players to jerseys of the eight franchises to overseas signings. And this time, the competition is once again in news for not having the Super Over in the group stage matches, according to a set of playing regulations released on ECB’s website. 

However, the rule will be implemented in the knockouts unless Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) has been used. While some of rules and regulations were revealed in December, the rule of Super Over and others have been added on Wednesday (March 11). They are:

• Teams can opt for a strategic time-out at any point of innings after the power play as long as the ball is dead.



• No more than five fielders will be permitted on the leg side at any one time



• All men’s games and televised women’s game will feature DRS with each team allocated one review per innings.

Apart from that, The Hundred will have five balls an over rather than the usual six balls. Two overs can be bowled from each end alternately and a bowler will be allowed to change ends as desired bowling a maximum of two overs consecutively. A team’s best new-ball or death bowler would be permitted to bowl 20 of the first or last 25 balls of an innings. Let’s take a look at the rules in detail.

Tied games:

In the group stages, a tied game will not have a Super Over, and wickets lost will be irrelevant too. Both the teams will be awarded one point each. In the knockout phase -- the eliminator/semi-final between the teams finishing second and third in the group, followed by the final -- wickets lost will be the decider in the event of a tie. If both the teams have lost the same number of wickets, the teams with the highest score after 30 balls wins and then after 25 balls and it goes on.

If the DLS method has been used in a tied knockout game, then a ‘Super Five’ will be played -- effectively a five-ball Super Over. If the ‘Super Five’ is tied, then the team with the higher score after four balls, three balls and so on will be declared the winner. If it is not possible to complete a ‘Super Five’ due to the weather, a bowl-out will be used, potentially to be held indoors.

Rain-affected matches

The minimum number of balls to complete a match is 25. The DLS method will be used to calculate the revised targets. There is a reserve day for finals, but no reserve days for group games. A bowl-out will be used if a minimum of 25 balls per side is not bowled in a knockout game.

Fielding restrictions:

The fielding rules are primarily same as in T20 blast as only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle and five outside after the mandatory 25-ball power play.

Strategy break:

The captains of the respective teams can call for a strategic time-out at any point after the power play. Also, it is not mandatory to take a strategic break.

Timings:

65 minutes has been allotted to teams, with 15 minutes given in between for innings break to give a total of two hours and 25 minutes per match.

Umpire signals:

The umpire will cross their hands above their head to signal that a bowler will bowl consecutive overs.