‘Firework Saturday’ at Cyd Gray Stadium

“Saturday is now called Firework Saturday by the committee, because we saw the ball flying out of the Stadium more than in. The same effect when you see fireworks going up in the air, that was what they were seeing with some big hitting.” Every match will last four overs, with each player batting and bowling for two overs in what is expected to be an exciting day of cricket. Defending champion Mark Deyal will defend his crown against Marlon Richards and Imran Khan, along with the Tobago pair of Navin Stewart and Marcus Daniel among others.

“We say it is fireworks, it is terrific bowling, explosive batting, brilliant fielding by the Tobagonians who have been training.

The technical team have retained the majority of the squad who were used as fielders last year.” Today the fieldsman from the Tobago Premier League will be confirmed, while the draw will take place tomorrow.

The winner will get $15,000, while the losing finalist will cop $5,000. Some of the other prizes up for grabs are the best batsman in the group stage, best bowler in the group stage, most outstanding fieldsman and most catches taken by a fieldsman.

Phillips said there will be one rule change. Previously, if a player bowled a wide he was penalised two runs but did not have to bowl the ball over.

In this year’s tournament, the player has to bowl the ball again while still being penalised two runs.

Phillips thanked the sponsors for coming on board in these tough economic times. “We are thankful. We have gotten a new sponsor - National Lotteries Control Board is now the gold sponsor. We have Newsday, Bmobile, FCB, Tobago House Assembly.

The private sector has stayed and stepped up to the plate.”