NZC introduces bonus points in Women's Super Smash to lift scoring rates

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has introduced a revised points structure in this season's Women's Super Smash to encourage higher-scoring matches. The decision has been made to stay on track with the evolving standards of international cricket.

Apart from the four points at stake for a win in the league stage, teams will be able to earn an extra bonus point per match if they score 150 runs or more - regardless of whether they bat first or second - or for achieving a run rate greater than 1.25 times that of the opposition in the second innings. Each team can earn a maximum of one bonus point per match.

The change follows an internal analysis of global trends across international and domestic competitions, which highlighted a clear acceleration in scoring rates, boundary percentages and first-innings averages, signalling a shift in what now constitutes competitive T20 performances.

Across last season, teams batting in the first innings crossed 150 six times in 32 games with a highest team total of 171. There were no scores between 140 to 149 while there were eight totals between 131 and 140. There were 17 innings, although some in weather-hit games, where the first-innings total was 130 and below.

New Zealand women's head coach Ben Sawyer said the revised points structure was designed to enhance New Zealand's prospects on the international stage.

"It's an exciting addition to the competition," Sawyer said. "It'll reward both aggressive batting and proactive wicket-taking bowling plans, which are the key skill sets required in this format. We hope that it'll encourage teams to align their style of play with international standards, which in turn elevates the domestic game and strengthen players' international readiness.

"We're expecting high scoring matches next year at the T20 World Cup in June, so this is a great opportunity for our players to get ready for that."

Although the revised structure does not promise a guaranteed fix for batting standards, Sawyer felt it was a step in the right direction.

"We're not suggesting that the revised points structure is the single solution," he said. "Individual skill, tactical awareness and coaching still plays a major role in improving the general batting standards in the women's game."

The Women's Super Smash starts on Boxing Day at Seddon Park, with hosts Northern Districts taking on Auckland. Defending champions Wellington play Central Districts on November 27.