Friday Night Smash Play Cricket 

Friday Night Smash Play Cricket is for kids in school years one to four and is a lot of fun to play – and watch!

For kids who are new to cricket (generally years one to two at school), the sessions are based on fun and quick skills activities followed by an informal game.

For kids with more experience (generally years three to four at school), the sessions are based on participation-led games, 24 x 4 ball overs a side, everyone bats the same number of overs and bowls the same number of overs.

Games are played at Birkenhead War Memorial, Friday night from 5:30pm-6:30pm.

Dates for the 2024/2025 season are:

• Friday 1st November – Friday 13th December
• Friday 31st January – Friday 21st March

OBJECTIVES

1. To ensure that junior cricket is fun and enjoyable for all.
2. To encourage participation in cricket by promoting it as a positive and rewarding experience.
3. To promote skill development in all players.
4. To allow maximum participation and enjoyment in all aspects of the game by having a maximum of 8 players per team, using rotating field settings (in circular motion) and using the following recommended number of overs.

Cluster Tournament

In March BCCC enjoyed a fantastic turnout with wonderful weather as we hosted our annual Cluster tournament. We had 20 teams enter from schools in our catchment area. The unavailability of our second field made it tough to host more teams but we will look to grow these teams considerably when the next tournament arrives.

2022/2023 winners:

Kane Williamson Cup – Kauri Park School

Kyle Jamieson Cup – Bayview Primary

Sophy Devin Cup – Kauri Park School

Smash Play Games Rules

These rules are based on up to eight players in each team, in a 24 x 4 ball overs per innings format. Adjustments should be made on the day if numbers vary to ensure each player participates in all aspects of the game ensuring an even number of balls are bowled to both teams.

Standard cricket rules apply but with the following variations:

1. Pitch is 12 meters long
2. Soft ball is used
3. Stumpings – not allowed
4. LBW – rule does not apply
5. Fielders must not stand within 8 meters of batter (except wicket keeper)
6. Three runs are added to the bowling team’s score for every wicket taken (whether bowled, caught or run out.)
7. BOWLING – overs are 4 balls each for “Have a Go” including wides. There are no ‘no balls’. Wides are not rebowled (but see 14).
   1. Every player should bowl three overs each, the bowlers to be rotated rather than bowling 3 alternate overs in partnership with another bowler. (This ensures that the fielding side is always on the move, looking forward to their next bowl). Underarm bowling is permitted in this grade providing the ball is not rolled along the ground, but please encourage overarm bowling wherever possible.
8. Wides: A wide is called if the ball goes outside the return crease (either off or legside). If no runs are scored, whether or not the ball is hit, one run is awarded to the batter for the wide. If the ball is hit but no runs are scored from it, the batter still receives one run for the wide. If the ball is hit and runs are scored, then it is not a wide, it is runs to the batter.
9. BATTING: Each pair of batters remains ‘in’ for six overs and then retires. If run out, the run on which the run out occurs is not counted, irrespective of whether or not the batters have crossed (remember to add 3 runs to the bowling team’s score for the out). If the run out occurs on the second or subsequent runs, the earlier runs run ARE scored.
10. Runs – are counted in the normal way, including boundaries.
11. Runs from overthrows should amount to one additional run only per ball bowled (to avoid continuous overthrows).
12. Should the ball not reach the batsman, the batsman has the right to walk out and hit the ball where it stops. The batsman can position themselves in any direction to hit the ball. However, he/she has one swing of the bat only. Fielders must remain where they were when the ball was first bowled (except for safety reasons).
13. Umpires must advance bowlers up the pitch if they cannot bowl the full length (a full length being the ball only bounces once before reaching the batsman).
14. Where three balls in any one over are bowled wide, an extra delivery is added to the over, being a tee-shot. The tee is placed in front of the batter at the batting crease. One swing of the bat only.
15. Boundaries should be set before the game by mutual agreement between the umpires.
16. Adjustments should be made on the day if numbers vary to ensure each player participates in all aspects of the game, ensuring an even number of balls are bowled to both teams.
17. Games should be finished by 6.30pm.

By mutual agreement (i.e. common sense and consensus) these rules can be further modified by the umpires to match the skill level of players and to avoid ‘over umpiring’. Encourage and reward good sportsmanship – teams should shake hands at the end of the game, applaud good individual play by the opposition etc.

email: office@birkenheadcricket.co.nz

 

 

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