MOREE district Cricket Association will field teams under lights at Ron Harborne Oval when a T20 match is held on Friday, November 22.

The 20-over night game, made up of players from each team in the club’s regular Saturday afternoon competition, will take to the pitch at 5.45pm.

Club president, Grady Sinclair, is buoyed by the response to the concept.

“We put up an expressions of interest post on our senior cricket Facebook page and I wasn’t surprised at all when I saw the amount of people nominate themselves to be on a team,” Sinclair said.

“There’s been a night game in Moree before, and I’ve been chatting to as many guys as I can who actually played in that match.

“Most said it was strange and unusual playing conditions, but the light wasn’t too bad.

“I’ve also spoken to Moree Council and Lisa Slater’s been extremely helpful, organising for some of the lights to be repaired as some on each light tower were not working,” Sinclair said.

The club invites the Moree community to come along and enjoy local cricket under lights, with more games planned in the future.

“We will have a barbecue happening and hope to get a few people down to check it out,” Sinclair said.

The club plans to start a regular Friday night T20 competition, a concept started in the UK more than 20 years ago.

Two teams each play a single innings, which is restricted to a maximum of 20 overs.

“We think it will be nice to have cricket under lights. It gives the community something different to watch as well as giving cricketers the opportunity to play in a different setting, like so many other country towns are now doing,” Sinclair said.

“Gunnedah District Cricket Club has a Friday night competition under lights and from all reports it runs really well.”

Meanwhile, last Saturday’s local competition saw Moree Golf Club defeat Mehi Mudcrabs by eight wickets.

Jacky Johnson was the Mudcrabs’ best batsmen with 47 not-out, facing 87 balls and carrying his bat through the 30 overs of Moree Golf Club bowling.

Gun bowler Alfred Newman took 3/17 off six overs and Rustam Maharjan took 2/21 off six overs.

Rayma Honour was the Mudcrabs best bowler, taking 2/20 off three overs.

Matt O’Donnell and Brady Polkinghorne scored 49 and 47 respectively, both not out.

“The Saturday games have been very competitive since the competition started this year, and all the players are looking forward to having a crack at the T20 night game,” Sinclair said.

“T20s are fast-paced and fantastic to watch, and the club invites the Moree community to come down to Harborne Oval to have a look and grab bite to eat from the barbecue.”