IT promises to be an evening of quality cricket – but probably not as you know it.

Carlisle Cricket Club will today [Friday] host its second ever floodlit T20 style evening of competitive cricket, with a backdrop of live music, family attractions, and regular commentary.

It is the second year the Edenside ground has staged a floodlit game and organiser Mike Rayson, the club’s chairman, expects this more fast-paced style of playing to grow in popularity.

Tonight’s game is between Carlisle and Wigton. The winner will land a place in the Cumbria Cricket League finals.

But what is different about T20?

“There’s the while ball for one thing,” said club chairman Mike Rayson, who first suggested that the club host a mid-summer T20 style competition that – thanks to floodlights – can continue until after sunset. 

The stumps are also deliberately more high-vis, being bright orange.  

There will be live musical entertainment from the Northeast based singer Pete Hoban as well as other attractions, including a bouncy castle, bars and a BBQ. Using the T20 format, with the teams restricted to 20 overs each to encourage a faster pace.

It is only the second time that the Cumbria Cricket League has staged a T20 competition, with the first game last year attracting more than 800 spectators to the Edenside ground.  

Tonight’s game starts at 7pm and is expected to continue – with regular commentary throughout – until around 10.30pm.

Mike added: “Christian Moffatt who played last year said it was the best game of cricket he’d ever played. There’ll be over three hours of cricket and live music. We expect it to be a good night.”

The organisers hope attendees will make a small donation to help fund the club and its programme of junior cricket development.

Mr Rayson thanked Sunbelt Rentals for providing the floodlights for the event, both this year and last year.