Cricket
Wardens to host floodlit cricket

KENILWORTH Wardens’ Glasshouse Park home hosts an innovative new cricket competition next week, as the area’s four leading cricket clubs contest the Carrick Travel Floodlit T20 Cup.

Leamington, Knowle & Dorridge and Berkswell join the hosts for a four-day cricket extravaganza, featuring coloured kit, white balls, music and floodlights.

The presence of the area’s top cricketers, including a number with county and international experience, promises great entertainment for the large crowds expected throughout the week.

The four local rivals meet in a three-day, round-robin competition, which commences at 5.30pm on Monday evening, when Dominic Ostler’s Birmingham Premier League title chasers Berkswell go head-to-head with Rob Williams’ Leamington. This is followed at 7.50pm by the hosts’ clash with much-fancied K&D.

The top two finishers from the round robin meet for a second time in Thursday’s final, with a £500 first prize, plus the Carrick Travel Cup at stake.

Wardens’ overseas professional, India A all-rounder Sitanshu Kotak has experienced floodlit T20 in his native country and is really excited about being part of its introduction to the Warwickshire club scene.

Kotak said: “I have really enjoyed the floodlit matches I have played in, the white ball travels very quickly and the floodlights create a superb atmosphere and really good environment for cricket.

“I obviously think Wardens have a very good chance of winning the competition and would view Knowle & Dorridge as our main challengers. Their Bermudan international batsman David Hemp is very experienced in this format, while Attiq Chishti strikes the ball well.

“Home advantage will be important for us, we have a young side that fields well, and in Martin Donald we have a very dangerous, quick-scoring batsman. That said, T20 is a very open format, so all four teams have a chance on their day, and it should be a really interesting competition.”

Entry, by programme, is £5 per car, or £2 on foot. Catering and bar facilities are available to spectators throughout the week.

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