A new competition is bringing the spirit of the professional NatWest T20 Blast into Welsh club cricket - with 25 new teams entering the inaugural NatWest U19 Club T20 competition in Wales.
Modelled on the high-profile NatWest T20 Blast for the first class counties in England and Wales, this new competition provides a format, which is fast, exciting and sociable.
Among the highlights of the competition so far has been a round-robin tournament at Buckley Cricket Club, involving a Flintshire Fire combined XI , Marchwiel and Chirk CCs combined, and Gresford CC.
Flintshire won both their games and Gresford one game; and hosts Buckley CC, who also benefited from the SSE SWALEC Development fund to support retention of players and from Waitrose sponsorship in the form of food for the day, reported extremely positive feedback, which could lead to the tournament becoming a regular fixture.
Throughout this summer, hundreds of clubs across England and Wales will be taking part in the NatWest U19 Club T20.
This is an exciting new development in response to player insight and to help tackle the problem of players dropping out of the sport in their late teens, said Cricket Wales chief executive, Peter Hybart.
The games are quick and exciting, and can easily be played in an evening, or provide the opportunity to build a social event around them for family, friends and supporters - as Buckley has shown with the tournament.
It's very much in the spirit of the NatWest T20 Blast, and in a sense it's 'bringing the Blast' to the clubs.
Cricket Wales is the national governing body for junior and recreational senior cricket in Wales. It works closely with Glamorgan County Cricket Club, which governs the men's professional game. For information visit
www.cricketwales.org.uk