Kent switch t20 opener to Canterbury

By Mark Baldwin

Kent's opening Friends Life t20 match, against Sussex tomorrow evening (June 12), has been switched from Tunbridge Wells to Canterbury.

The local derby match with Sussex was to be the final game in the six-day Tunbridge Wells festival week, which this year has been celebrating - or trying to celebrate, given the appalling weather - its 100th anniversary.

Sadly for organisers and fans of the hugely-popular annual festival at the picturesque Nevill Ground, the almost relentless rain over the past 10 days in West Kent has had the final say.

More heavy overnight and early morning rain today has saturated the Tunbridge Wells ground for the third time in just over a week, and given the conditions it has been to the credit of the Nevill groundstaff that 33 overs' play was possible in yesterday's rain-ruined Clydesdale Bank 40 fixture against Northamptonshire, and that there was a full day's play on the last day of the County Championship game against Hampshire after the first three days had been largely disfigured by the bad weather.

The Kent v Sussex FLt20 match will now take place under floodlights at the St Lawrence Ground, in Canterbury, with a start time of 7pm.

Kent chief executive Jamie Clifford said: “I am sorry for those who were planning to come to The Nevill tomorrow for the start of our Twenty20 campaign. The weather conditions at Tunbridge Wells have been extreme and we have been left with no option but to switch the fixture to Canterbury.

"I hope that many will still be able to make it to the game, but for those who cannot we will offer a full refund. The game will start at 7pm and be played under lights to allow increased travel time. We will also offer the advance ticket price on the gates tomorrow for all, which is £20 adults and £5 juniors.”

*Anyone with tickets for the match who is unable to travel to Canterbury tomorrow should send their tickets with name and address to Kent County Cricket Club, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3NZ.


Date: 11/06/2012 15:06:02 by MBaldwin
In: Today | Sussex | Kent |