Solidarity Cup: Cricket South Africa launch new three-team format

AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada will lead three teams in the first match of its kind – 3TC (three-team cricket), a 36-over match consisting of three 12-over innings and two halves

Cricket is to return to South Africa with a one-off exhibition match played in a new, three-team format.

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

The fixture, which has been coined as the Solidarity Cup, will take place on June 27 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. The game will be played behind closed doors.

Cricket South Africa chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra explained: “First of all it will be an empty stadium, we’re looking at the minimum number of people being there for the event to happen and be broadcast, which is about 200.

“The players will get in three days before and be kept in a sanitised eco-system… In the stadium, everyone will wear masks and doors will be kept open along with other safety measures.”

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.

Teams:

KG’s Kingfishers: Kagiso Rabada (c), Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenton Stuurman

Quinny’s Kites: Quinton de Kock (c), David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje, Dwayne Pretorius, Beuran Hendricks, JJ Smuts, Lutho Sipamla

AB’s Eagles: AB de Villiers (c), Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Andile, Phehlukwayo, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Kyle Verreynne, Sisanda Magala

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