The Premier Division Two-Day League relegation issue between Social Club and Devonshire Rec. is to be settled immediately following tomorrow?s Central Counties semi-finals at Police and St.John?s Fields via a bowl-off, Bermuda Cricket Board have confirmed.

The two centrally-based clubs had their match called off last weekend when umpires failed to show at Devonshire Recreation Club. Theirs was just one of five Two-Day League matches which failed to get underway over the holiday weekend.

Board secretary Marc Wetherhill confirmed: ?With the Central Counties competition taking place this weekend both captains have agreed to a have a bowl-off which at this point in time has been scheduled for St.John?s Field at 6.30 p.m..

?We can?t have the bowl-off before the match because we can?t afford to damage the pitch and so it will be done after the match concludes.?

Although St. John?s Field has been designated for the bowl-off, the final venue will, in fact, hinge upon which Central Counties match concludes first, meaning that either cup holders Devonshire or Social Club could be forced to shuffle across Pembroke shortly after the completion of their cup ties.

?The bowl-off will be held at whichever game goes the longest,? Wetherhill added.

The Board reached its decision based on Two-Day League rules and guidelines.

According to Law 47: ?In the case of a match being abandoned without a ball being bowled, the teams will participate in a bowl-off to determine who will progress. The bowl-off will take place on the pitch allocated for the match unless otherwise determined by the umpires in consultation with the ground authority.

?The captains shall nominate their five bowlers and the order of bowling prior to the coin toss.?

?In the event the teams remain tied after five attempts at bowling at the stumps, they will be permitted to use a sixth bowler as the tie-breaker, or more until a clear victor has been determined,? Wetherhill explained.

However, in the event a bowl-off is not possible, as deemed by the umpires in consultation with the Board, ?the result will be determined by the toss of a coin?.

As for the remainder of last weekend?s matches which failed to start, Wetherhill said: ?Rather than share the points each team will finish equal in the table. There really is no need to replay those matches or have a bowl-off because ultimately they are safe from relegation and not the promoted team. Therefore, they will finish equal in their position in the table.?

When informed of the Board?s decision, Devonshire player/coach Ricky Brangman sr told : ?It should be very interesting and a lot better than flipping a coin. We don?t mind it and normally do it in training anyway.

?It?s no big deal ? just go out there and bowl at the stumps. And I?m for it and also Charlie (Social Club player/coach Charlie Marshall).?

A philosophical Marshall added: ?This will certainly be better than losing the Premier Division Knockout Cup Final (against Southampton Rangers) by the flip of a coin.

?Everybody has agreed to it (bowl-off) and hopefully luck will be on our side this time around.?

Meanwhile, tomorrow?s abbreviated Central Counties schedule sees cup holders Devonshire taking on Western Stars at St.John?s Field and last year?s beaten finalists Social Club pitted against Police at Police Field.