A new pre-season tournament aimed at getting local juniors excited about cricket is being held in Rotorua this weekend.
John Paul College, with the support of the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association and Events and Venues Rotorua, has created the Rotorua Little League Cricket T20 tournament at the Rotorua International Stadium.
The tournament comprises four teams of Year 7 and 8 players from the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Rotorua and Taupo, who will vie for early season honours during two days of T20 action.
It will include two innovations which are new to junior cricketers in the region; early evening games will be played under lights and games will be played on portable artificial wickets provided by Flicx Pitch New Zealand.
John Paul College cricket co-ordinator and Rotorua Little League spokesman Mark Chapman said it was rare for children to have the opportunity to play cricket under lights, let alone in a stadium predominantly used for representative rugby.