Rebels dominate last man stands cricket at local venues
SAXONWOLD – Local last man stands cricket team is the best in SA and one of the best in the world.
South Africa’s top-rated last man stands (LMS) cricket team plies its trade locally.
Rebels have won the South African LMS Championships three times and were runners-up in the LMS World Championships in 2017.
The cricket outfit, which has enjoyed the world’s top-ranking on occasions, plays its cricket at Zoo Lake Sports Club, Old Eds, Marks Park Sports Club, and Wendywood and Sandringham high schools.
“Rebels played their first game in October 2007,” said current player and former captain, Craig Marshall.
“One of the founders of LMS, Bjorn Briggs played in that game which Rebels won. In more recent times, from 2014, Rebels has been a team mostly made up of cricket players, both young and old to play fun-filled, fast-paced 20/20 cricket while trying to make it to the top of the rankings.”
Marshall said playing in the biennial world championships was the most exciting time for Rebels.
“It gives us such a sense of pride to achieve entry into the tournament and represent our team. We also give it our best to bring the title to South Africa. Playing in Barbados in 2015, Cape Town 2017 and Australia in 2019 have been some of the most memorable times for us as players.”
He added that the team was strong because its members enjoyed friendly cricket while playing hard and for each other. There is also a good balance of all-rounders.
“It helps to be able to bring the family and friends around to enjoy the shorter format of the game as LMS caters for the family.”
The SA Championships are coming up in April, then Rebels will look to the Cape Town Open later in the year and the World Champs next year, which they hope to win.
LMS rules
LMS cricket involves T20 matches played between teams of eight players. To get a team out within the allotted 20 overs, the opposition has to take every wicket, unlike in standard cricket. When a batsman scores 50 runs he/she has to retire so the next batsman can play.
A six-hit off the last ball of the innings yields 12 runs – this is called a home run, and more than 20 matches have been won in Joburg in this way. With fewer fielders and a smaller risk of being run out, the format encourages explosive batting.
Furthermore, singles are not allowed so batsmen have to run two runs if a boundary is not scored. Another deviance in the rules is that if a ball is hit into the air, it can result in both a catch and a run-out.
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