Manawatū Cricket Association

Twilight T20 Cricket Playing Conditions & Rules


2023/2024 Season

The goals of Twilight Cricket:

  • Social Enjoyment with friends

  • Opportunity to continue to enjoy playing cricket

  • A weekly release through sport


Dates for the 2023/2024 Season

  • The season will start Thursday, November 2nd and there will be 7 rounds before Christmas (last round Thursday 14th Dec)

  • The post-Xmas round will run Jan 11th - February 29th .  

  • The Play off round (including Top 4 Semifinals) will be on Thursday 7th March. 

  • The final will be held on Sunday 10th March 2024 followed by prize giving 

  • Pre Xmas teams will play in two mixed pools (based on seeding from the 2022/23 season)

  • Post Xmas teams will break into a Top 8/Bottom 8 based on standings in the pools from the pre Xmas round (Depending on team numbers).


The MCA has clarified the playing conditions around P1 players playing Twilight: 

A team may have a maximum of 2 x P1 players in their playing XI at any time. A P1 player is any player who has played any games for a P1 team in the current season. If a team is playing 2 x P1 players, these players may not bat together at any time unless they are the last partnership of the innings.  There is no limit around P2/P3/P4 players, but all teams are expected to play every game in the spirit that Twilight is meant to be played. 


2023/2024 Season

  • All games will continue to be umpired/scored by young MCA officials on PLAYHQ, MCA will improve the training given to these umpires and continue to support their development

  • The MCA will celebrate weekly player achievements via Social media

  • The MCA will promote and enforce a zero-tolerance of umpire abuse/pressure/disrespect in Twilight Cricket. 

  • The MCA will promote and enforce a zero-tolerance of Racial abuse in Twilight Cricket

  • All teams must have a minimum of 11 players fully registered in their team on PlayHQ by October 31st in order to be included in the draw for Twilight Cricket.  Guest players can still play for a team whenever they are needed, they will play under 'Guest player'. Only registered players are eligible for weekly/end of year awards and celebrations. 

  • All fully registered teams (in PlayHQ) will receive 2 x Pink 156 gram balls at the start of the season


The cost of Twilight entry this year is $650. 

Each team will be issued 4 x Kookaburra 156gm Pink Balls (2 before and 2 after Xmas) if teams are registered, an Umpire/Scorer for each game, prize giving and a contribution toward the cost of ground hire from PNCC. 


For any other information around twilight cricket, please contact Cole on cole@mca.org.nz.