Red Insure Twenty20

THAME Town captain Mike Higgs has called for a rule change after his side’s exit from the Home Counties Premier League’s Twenty20 competition.

Higgs has emailed the organisers with his concerns following Thame’s controversial first round defeat at home to Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Shipton were handed 12 penalty runs due to Thame’s slow over rate, which made their run chase a formality.

Higgs said: “We knew we were behind in terms of the time, but the rules didn’t make common sense.

“The umpires had four or five minutes talking to the scorers to sort out a query they had. They said they couldn’t allow that time.

“If we had had those minutes back, we would have been OK.

“It would have been a good end to the game with Shipton needing 15 runs off the last two overs and having two wickets left, but we were denied that.

“It all went a bit mad, but we had to stay out there as the penalty runs could not be added until afterwards.”

Higgs said Thame would not appeal the result, but hoped the rules could be altered for future seasons.

“Take nothing away from Shipton, but I have already written an email about how the rules need to be changed in these circumstances.

“It just ruined the end of the match.”