Record entry for midweek cricket competition

There has been a record entry this year into the Hunts County Bats Midweek T20 competition, which is administered by the Mid-Norfolk Sunday Cricket League.Competition organiser Colin King said: “We have seven more clubs entered so far than last year which makes this season a record breaker.”Reflecting upon the changes to the competition, King revealed: “I have ditched the old fashioned eight ball over format in favour of a far more exciting T20. I want to see a feast of fun and excitement.“To achieve this I have introduced ‘power plays’ where, for the first six overs, no more than two players can be outside a 30-yard circle.“I have also introduced ‘free hits’. If the bowler bowls a no ball then the next ball is a free hit and the batsman cannot be out unless he is run out.”In order to make for a more even competition, King explained: “I have banned Category 3 overseas professionals. Also players, once they have played in the competition this year, will be ‘cup tied’. I want to see what each individual club is capable of without resorting to importing outside talent. It will be sad for players eliminated early but the clubs that go through will be energised by their own efforts and achievements.”There is also a ‘plate competition’ with clubs eliminated in the early rounds of the Norfolk Senior Cup automatically entered into the Norfolk Junior Cup. So everyone is guaranteed at least two cup matches.The big change will be the draw, which will be held via Zoom video conferencing on April 4, with King adding: “I want to have openness about the draw. So now each club will have the opportunity to watch it as it happens. I will introduce an element of regionalisation to minimise midweek travelling but other than that it will be the luck of the draw.”The closing date for entry into this competition is March 28. Clubs interested in entering can email colinking1@icloud.com or call or text 07748 323630.