then run rate would be used to determine a winner in the case of a tie in limited overs cricket.

Confusion arose on Sunday after the competition had its first tie as Flatts and Hamilton Parish both scored 186 at Shelly Bay Field.

But yesterday the Board pointed out that the rules of the competition were attached to a January circular to the clubs which stated that the following shall apply in the case of a tied match: 1. The side losing the lesser number of wickets shall be the winner.

2. If both sides are all out, the side with the higher overall scoring rate shall be the winner.

3. If the result cannot be decided by 1 or 2 the winner shall be the side with the highest score after 30 overs or, if still equal, after 20 overs or, if still equal, after 10 overs.

As a result Flatts won their tied match with Hamilton Parish on run rate after both teams lost all its wickets. That leaves Flatts in sixth place in the Gold Division but still with a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals as a top four finisher in their group.

The two matches outstanding -- Somerset v Flatts and St. David's v Police -- will determine the remaining quarter-final places.

The BCBC match and scheduling committee will meet next Monday to consider the matter of the two unplayed matches.

Somerset are already through to the quarter-finals, leaving the final spot in that group to be decided between Hamilton Parish and Flatts who are tied on six points with Willow Cuts. Parish have the best strike rate of the three but Flatts still have a game to play.

In the Green Division, Southampton Rangers clinched the third spot with their win on Sunday, leaving Cleveland and St. David's to battle for the final spot.

That will be determined by the outcome of the St. David's-Police match from August 2.

The quarter-finals of the limited overs will take place on September 5, with the semifinals taking place on September 12 and the finals on the 19th.

The Shell Youth Tournament semifinal between Nationals and Western Stars will be played at Nationals on Saturday starting at 1pm. No date has been set for the other semifinal, between St. David's and Southampton Rangers, as both teams are still involved in Eastern and Western Counties competitions.