Twenty20 Cup is back (From Gazette Series)

Twenty20 Cup is back

CRICKET'S most enthralling newest addition, the Twenty20 Cup, starts again on Friday, July 2.

The competition is beginning its second season and The Gloucestershire County Ground is hosting its first match which will be a thrilling 'Derby Day', against Somerset Sabres on Friday, July 9.

They will also play Warwickshire Bears at Home on Wednesday 15th July.

Last year the Gloucestershire Gladiators enjoyed huge support at their home ground and they are confident that this season, these numbers will be surpassed.

"We were getting about 5,000 people attending games last season" said Tom Richardson, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

"We were particularly pleased with the amount of female supporters and children who attended the cricket and we are hoping to attract many new fans this year, especially because of the convenient time the matches are played.

"The action is non-stop, the intensity is high - in short, twice the action in half the time".

The Twenty20 games start at 5.30pm and finish at 8.15pm.

"People can come straight from work and families can attend without worrying about late nights for their children" added Richardson.

The Gloucestershire Gladiators are represented in the Mid/Wales/West Zone and will be taking on Worcestershire Royals (July 2, away), Northamptonshire Steelbacks (July 8, away), Somerset Sabres (July 9, home), Glamorgan Dragons (July 14, away) and Warwickshire Bears (July 15, home).

This year's competition sees new dimensions with the addition of a quarter-finals stage. The top two teams in the three regional groups plus the two best placed third teams will progress to the quarter finals which will be played a week after the main group stages end.

The final takes place at Edgbaston on Saturday August 7.