Busy summer for cricket fans

Hamilton's Seddon Park will host the two crunch games in the New Zealand domestic T20 cricket competition.

The venue will host the preliminary and grand finals of the HRV Twenty20 in January, regardless of which of New Zealand's six first-class men's teams qualify.

The preliminary final will be on January 17, with the grand final the following day.

Hamilton City Council's general manager of events and economic development Sean Murray says the allocation of the two final matches comes a few weeks after confirmation Hamilton will host three matches as part of ICC Cricket World Cup.

"Seddon Park is a purpose-built cricket venue well-equipped with an excellent set of floodlights," Mr Murray says.

New Zealand Cricket is striving to hold more short-format matches at night and the Northern Districts Cricket Association has struck a successful formula with its 'Friday Night Under Lights' marketing campaign for Northern Knights' HRV Twenty20 games.

Seddon Park is also hosting preliminary matches in the HRV Twenty20 in mid-November and on January 10.

Seddon Park is also the venue for two matches during the West Indies' tour of New Zealand - a test starting on December 19 and a one-day international on January 8.