If you thought Twenty20 cricket was fast paced, action packed with big hitting and lots of runs, then maybe you should check out Last Man Stands (LMS) cricket.
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It’s still a 20 over match but the biggest change from conventional Twenty20 is that each team only has eight players.
And as the name suggests when the seventh wicket falls, the last batsman is not left stranded - he can bat on - but is only allowed to hit twos, fours or sixes.
There are a few other variances, but you get the picture - it’s perhaps a longer version of the locally run twilight cricket competition.
Locals will get a chance to see LMS in action this weekend when two predominantly Shoalhaven teams, who play in the Kiama competition, stage a home game on Sunday.
The match will be held at Lyrebird Sports Park from 12 noon and will take around two hours to complete, with Hi Flyers facing the Hi Flyers second 8.
Shawn Higgins, who is part of one of the teams said it’s a chance for people to come and experience this version of cricket.
“It’s an avenue to keep people in the game,” he said “people who perhaps don’t want to spend all Saturday afternoon playing the conventional game.
“A lot of people nowadays are time poor and don't have six hours to spend on the playing field.”
He said the game was completed in about two hours and it was a good chance for people to see what cricket is like.
Read more:
Damian McGill's in depth look at Shoalhaven Cricket
A few other rule changes from regular cricket matches.
Everyone can bowl if they want but only five bowlers can bowl a maximum of four overs.
They are only five ball overs.
If a wide or no ball is bowled, only one gets rebowled - every other remaining wide or no ball in that over is worth three runs and no extra balls are bowled.
Batsmen retire at 50 but can return to the crease if needed and time allows at the fall of the seventh wicket.
The last man carries his bat until he is dismissed or the overs are completed. The last batsman must hit twos, fours or sixes, they can’t run singles.
With a bowler and wicket keeper leaving only six players in the field Mr Higgins said there were “plenty of gaps” in the field.
Read more:
Damian McGill's in depth look at Shoalhaven Cricket
“Scores for 150 to 200 are the norm,” he said.
“It really is a case of going from the first ball.”
It is hoped to have a competition based in the Shoalhaven next year which might be played over the winter period.
“Kiama has a summer and spring competitions and Wollongong has a winter comp,” he said “it would be great to have something down here.
“Sunday is a chance for people to see what Last Man Stands is like.”
The concept of Last Man Stands has also been used in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament since 1999.