Lighting it up - Himley welcome back floodlit T20 tournament (From Halesowen News)

Lighting it up - Himley welcome back floodlit T20 tournament

1:00pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in Sport

THE LIGHTS are back at Himley which can mean only one thing — it’s Twenty20 time once again.

Fours, sixes, yorkers, beer and beefburgers will be in abundance at Stourbridge Road throughout next week as it hosts the Black Country Floodlit T20 competition.

Now in it’s third year, the competition has proved a resounding success and this year will be graced by a man who has played in the richest T20 game of all.

Himley overseas star Rajat Bhatia was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team which beat the Chennai Super Kings in this season’s Indian Premier League final and will swap DLF Maximums for the humble six as he seeks to guide the hosts to victory.

Organiser Greg Wright said: “It’s something different and a chance to attract people who perhaps wouldn’t come and watch club cricket.

“There are going to be some great players on show and the games are competitive, plus we’ve tried to bring in a few new ideas this year to make it even more exciting for the crowd — like a free pint for any spectator who takes a catch.

“It’s a long way to go to Worcester or to Edgbaston and the Black Country has always been a hotbed of quality cricket.”

The four-team tournament includes Wolverhampton along with Himley, while Stourbridge and Brewood replace Old Hill and Walsall from last year.

A league format which sees the teams face each other in 15-over games, with the top-two progressing to Friday’s showpiece final.

Meanwhile, Thursday night features the cream of the Staffordshire League against the best the Worcestershire League has to offer in a one-off game.

Himley’s inaugural tournament two years ago was the first of its kind in the region but the idea has caught on, with Kenilworth Wardens hosting their first competition last week.

Wright added: “They asked us for advice on organising it and we were able to give them some figures in terms of how much it would cost.

“There are a lot of cup competitions about now but they are getting more and more devalued.

“Short, sharp competitions like these are going to be the future.”

WHEN TO CATCH THE ACTION

Monday: Himley v Wolves (5.30pm), Stourbridge v Brewood (7.40pm).

Tuesday: Himley v Stourbridge (5.30pm), Brewood v Wolves (7.40pm).

Wednesday: Wolves v Stourbridge (5.30pm), Brewood v Himley (7.40pm).

Thursday: Staffs Club Championship v Worcestershire County (League (6.30pm).

Friday: The Final (6.30pm).