Controversy surfaced again in the Eastern Counties on Saturday when challengers Flatts Victoria had their overs reduced, but not their target, after a rain stoppage at Sea Breeze Oval.

Needing 186 to win, Flatts were given just 24 overs to get the runs rather than the 41 they would have had, had rain not intervened.

Unlike a limited-overs game were the runs required would also have been reduced, Eastern Counties rules make no such provision.

In the wake of last year’s incident of time wasting in the first-round match between Cleveland and Bailey’s Bay, Wendell White, the Flatts coach, said something had to be done about the rules governing the overs.

As it was, Flatts only batted 21 overs because the game again finished at the scheduled time of 7.20pm.

A furious White has vowed to speak up at the next Eastern Counties Cricket Association meeting where he is likely to express his anger that the target never changed, as would be the case in a limited-overs match.

“I think the laws of the game really need to be changed, there’s no way that one team can bat 70 overs and the next team 38, as an example,” White said.

“Today we bowled 51 overs and we had 41 because of the late start, which was OK, but when the rain came down the scenario changed.

“You deduct and penalise my team, but you don’t deduct the runs, and that’s unfair against the rules of cricket.

“Nowhere in the world does this happen, any time you deduct overs you have to deduct runs.

“I have a serious problem with that, and as the Flatts coach I’m going to make sure that when September comes and they have their meeting, I’m going to go to the meeting and express myself, and let them know the reason why this type of cricket is unfair.

“It is set up for the team that has the cup to keep the cup.”

Admittedly, Flatts made their task harder by dropping several catches.

The innings could have started — and with a smaller target — at least an hour before the rain delay.

“Yes, we had 24 overs to make 186 and we had three overs left on 113 and with plenty of light left, so what does that tell you?” White said.

“Either you have to play until there is a winner, or give it a later time cut-off.

“We scored 113 runs in 18 overs, instead of 41 overs, and you deprive me of winning by penalising us because of the weather.”

The Eastern Counties, the second oldest cricket competition to Cup Match at 112 years, is the only counties that does not have limited overs. Rather, there is a stipulation that 118 overs must be bowled during the day, with the team batting first allowed to bat 55 per cent of those overs.

Even when he was coach of the champions St David’s, Wendell Smith called the rules unfair, admitting it favoured the holders.

Last year Allen Richardson, a former player for St David’s in the Eastern Counties, said the rules need changing.

“I’d like to see it become 50-50 [overs] or 60-60,” White said. “Things have to change and in order to improve and get the competition better, you have to change the laws.

“You caused my guys to go out there and play a Twenty20 game.

“I’m proud of them for the way they performed and under different rules we would have won this game hands down.

“I’m hurting right now and will do what I can, but we’re only one club. I hope the other clubs will come on board with me so that we can change this for next year.”