B20 shakes up lawn bowls

In an attempt to attract new and younger players to the sport, bowls in Amanzimtoti is about to undergo a radical shake-up with the introduction of a new format.

B20 cricket bowls, like the name suggests, is a mixture of bowls and cricket. The new format, which is hoped will appeal to the younger generation, as well as pundits of the sport, was demonstrated by Amanzimtoti Bowling Club men’s vice-president, Rob Troughton at the club on Friday, 5 January.

It was fitting that the dawn of a new era took place during the first week of a new year and judging from the response of members who pitched up to hear about and participate in the demo, the new format is sure to shake up a game which is often referred to as ‘old man’s marbles’.

B20 cricket bowls, as in a game of T20 cricket, is played with a set of wickets, which is supported in a frame to prevent damage to the green, and a scoring map at the opposite end of the green, where runs can be accumulated.

The game is essentially two bowl trips (three players using two bowls each), but it can also be played as pairs (two players) using three bowls each.

Eight ‘overs’ or 16 ends constitutes a game. An over comprises bowling to the ‘wicket end’ and then to the ‘runs end’ of the green.

The idea is to hit a wicket, which equates to two runs. At the other end, where you land your bowl on the map determines how many runs you have scored.

At the end of the game, runs and wickets are tallied and depending on how many wickets your team has scored, runs are subtracted from your opposition. The teams that finishes with the most runs is the winner.

Teams of three players are encouraged to wear the same attire and be as colourful as they like. To protect the green, flat shoes must be worn and takkies with a flat, smooth sole are perfect.

“The idea is to try and recruit new members,” said Rob. “We want to start a night league, which will be played under floodlights. Each game takes about one-and-a-half hours to complete and league meetings will be about three hours long, with the winners of the first game playing each other and the losers facing off, in a strength versus strength format.

We hope to get local businesses, schools and sports club interested in fielding a three-man team.” Rob hopes to accommodate 12 teams for the inaugural six-week league.

B20 cricket bowls was first introduced to the masters at Benoni BC and proving that it takes some skill to perfect, it took the masters over 20 minutes to hit the first wicket.

Rob participated in a demo of the new format at Westville Bowling Club in November and he hopes it will take Toti by storm.

“We are looking for sponsorship for the league to hopefully start on 1 March,” he said.

“It will cost teams R750 to enter the league, but players will each enjoy a boerewors roll at the games.

Using just the entry fees, the winning team will scoop R1,500, second R900 and third R600. Of course if we can get sponsorship, this may increase.

We want to attract youngsters, but the age limit will be from 13-years up.

The league will start on one green, as we only have one under floodlights, but hopefully if it takes off, we can erect more lights.

If players have never played bowls before, we will coach them about the basics in the first week before games get underway.”

If you are keen to sponsor or enter a team, call Rob on 083-631-0676.

 
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