June brings Professional to Cornwall

The Cornish Cricket Festival is moving into its second year after a thrilling first Festival in 2012, where the highlight featured England's Women beating India in a Natwest .

Opening with a mouth-watering Yorkshire Bank 40 match between the and local favourites Somerset on Friday 14th June, the Festival will then witness another YB40 clash on 19th June, this time between the hard-hitting Netherlands and star- studded Nottinghamshire Outlaws, before ending in style with the Festival Sporting Dinner on Friday 21st June. Other Festival attractions include Cornish beer tents, top local caterers Roseworthy Farm, and a host of family activities and events, with the ECB Cricket Factory in attendance to encourage participation in the sport.

Cornish Sporting Club’s director, Alan George, said “To have two major Yorkshire Bank 40 matches in Cornwall is a real achievement. And this year’s Festival a must for any cricket or major sports fan as well as a great day out for all the family.”

The Yorkshire Bank 40 competition features the 18 first class county sides, Netherlands, Scotland and Unicorns, with teams split into three groups. The winner from each group and the best runner up then go into the semi-finals, with the final held at Lords.

The Unicorns team is made up of the ‘best of the rest’ players, from the 18 county sides who have just missed out on professional contracts and are captained by the former Somerset all-rounder and Cornwall player, .

Somerset have been one of English cricket’s leading sides the last few years and were the runners up in the CB40 competition in 2011. Their squad features a number of high profile players, such as England internationals , and , and the South African Test Player .

Netherlands chief executive, Richard Cox, said: “Netherlands cricket has come a long way over the last couple of years, with us beating England at Lords in 2009 in the World Twenty 20 and finishing fourth in the CB40 League last season.

Nottinghamshire are one of England’s strongest county sides and feature England internationals , , James Taylor, and Chris Read as part of their squad. Current Aussie Test opener Ed Cowan is also set to take part for the Outlaws, before joining up with the rest of the Australian squad for . Spectator tickets are £15 for adults, £7.50 for children, with a family ticket at £35 when bought online. Luxury Match Day Hospitality is available from £65 pp + vat, along with Festival Dinner tickets. Spectator tickets are also available on the gate on Match Days, for further information please visit www.cornishcricketfestival.co.uk, or drop in to one of the following ticket agents: Truro Cricket Club, Michael Spiers Jewellers (Truro), Truro Tourist Information Centre, Cornish Sporting Club (St Austell) or the Cornish Cricket Company (St Austell).

ENDS

About the Cornish Cricket Festival

The Cornish Cricket Festival is moving into its second year after a thrilling first Festival in 2012, where the highlight featured England's Women beating India in a Natwest One Day International. The event is organised by Cornish Sporting Club, Cornwall’s leading Corporate Hospitality and Events Company, with this year’s Festival featuring two high profile cricket matches, and the Festival Sporting Dinner with guest speaker Kevin Keegan.

Opening with the Yorkshire Bank 40 match between Unicorns and Somerset on Friday 14th June, the Festival will then witness another Yorkshire Bank 40 clash on 19th June, this time between the Netherlands and Nottinghamshire, before ending in style with the Festival Sporting Dinner on Friday 21st June. The Festival includes a host of family activities and events, with the ECB Cricket Factory in attendance to encourage participation in the sport. This is the first time that Yorkshire Bank 40 matches have been hosted in Cornwall; the Festival is sure to be a real treat to cricket and sports fans generally around the county.

A range of tickets and hospitality packages are available for this event please visit our website www.cornishcricketfestival.co.uk for more information