THE razzmatazz of 20/20 cricket comes to the National Sports Centre on Saturday night when St. David's and Somerset battle to win the inaugural T20 final.

A 30-foot screen is being installed to play back the big hits and plays and team captains will be linked to the commentators during the action ¿ all designed to make the event as exciting for the fans as possible.

American-style entertainment has arrived on the cricket pitch!

"The BCB is pleased to see how popular the T20 tournament has become in only a few short weeks," said Bermuda Cricket Board president Reginald Pearman yesterday during a press conference to unveil plans for the final showpiece which will also include man-of-the-match awards, 'play of the day' for both matches and free admission as an added incentive to get the fans to the game.

"It is a great way to start the season and we plan to make it a regular fixture to kick off the season," said Pearman. "We would like to encourage all of Bermuda to come out and watch what I know will be some exciting cricket.

"Full credit to the cricket committee under the chairmanship of Allen Richardson for implementing an idea and bringing it forward. With the popularity of the ICL in India and the (Stanford 20/20) in the West Indies it augers well that Bermuda has decided that we kick off with the 20/20.

"Hopefully it will continue as we go forward and it is my personal opinion that it is going to change the way cricket is going in the future. If you look at the ICC and the other nations, everybody is trying to embellish this type of cricket from an entertainment standpoint. Whether it be development for our players remains to be seen."

Unfortunately, the final, which is set to start at 8 p.m. at the completion of the third-place playoff match between last weekend's beaten semi-finalists Leg Trappers and Police (4.00), will clash with the Bermuda's Hogges' USL match with Pittsburgh Riverhounds which starts at 7 p.m.

Even so, Pearman feels the fans could easily watch the Hogges and then make the short walk to the northern field to watch the final which will finish at about 11 p.m. with the prize presentation.

"It certainly has been an overwhelming success ¿ we've had great support from the clubs and I would like to thank the clubs, the players who took part and also the National Sports Centre for the great job they have done," said Richardson.

It will be the first 20/20 match under lights at the Sports Centre since the World Cricket Classic in 2006 and both St. David's and Somerset earned the right to contest tomorrow's final following semi-final victories at the same venue last weekend. St. David's, winners of East Zone, got by Police in the first semi-final by seven wickets while Somerset stopped Leg Trappers by four wickets in the other match.

St. David's should be favoured in the final but Somerset showed last weekend they have a team that cannot be taken lightly. Leg Trappers had them in early trouble in defence of their 116 when Somerset were reeling at 36-5 and Trappers were on the verge of an upset.

However, a sixth wicket stand of 75 between captain Jacobi Robinson and Shane Hollis turned the match back in Somerset's favour and set up a thrilling victory with Robinson finishing with a delightful 65 not out off 11 fours to lead his team to victory with eight balls to spare. It earned him the man-of-the-match award. Hollis fell for 19 just before the score was passed.

Somerset can expect a keen challenge from a St. David's side that has several players capable of punishing them with the bat, including last weekend's man-of-the-match Delyone Hollis, Chris Foggo, Lionel Cann and OJ Pitcher who are the key men in the St. David's batting while Arthur Pitcher and Del Hollis will lend their experience in the bowling department as they contend with Somerset's front line batsmen Davon Wade, Azeem Pitcher, Dwight Basden, Jermaine Warner, Reid Jones, Hollis and captain Robinson.

St. David's captain Lionel Cann says the prospect of being the first winners of a new trophy will be an extra incentive for both teams. He expects to "have our hands full" against Somerset.

"Trophies are what sportsmen play for and we find ourselves in a good position this year, playing some excellent cricket," said Cann who believes a total in the region of 170-180 will be sufficient if his team bats first.

"They are a very young team but they are showing that they are seasoned cricketers. I've been very impressed with what they have been doing. Obviously we are going up against a team, Somerset, that's very experienced, been together a long time and some have played international cricket, Cup Match and top cricket in Bermuda. We look forward to it being a good match.

"I saw they way they played on Saturday ¿ they obviously they got the job done. They didn't have one of their better games but they still fought through it and came away with a victory. We've got our hands full."

While St. David's breezed to a relatively comfortable victory over Police, Somerset made hard work of their semi-final tie with Leg Trappers, needing a captain's innings from Robinson to pull off victory. Now they are one win away from a rare trophy for the west end club.

"It's been a long road for Somerset, I would say it's 20 years since Somerset won any type of silverware," said Robinson.

"Like Lionel said it wasn't one of our better games but we are a unit and have been together for a long time and when the times are down that's when we show our character because of the harmony in the team. We all back each other.

"Yeah, it's going to be a contest and like I told my guys after the game, it's not going to be easy playing St. David's because they have been in this position, they've won trophies, so it's our turn to stand up and be counted and say 'we're just as good as St. David's and we can play at this level with them, we're coming to put up a fight and we're not going to lie down'."

The quality of the pitch at the Sports Centre has been a main topic of discussion for the last couple of years. However all indications show it is improving to a point where an international match could be hosted there later this summer.

Certainly the four captains from last weekend's semi-finals gave it a passing grade.

l Lionel Cann: "When we played last Saturday it was the third day on the pitch and it played quite well, kind of slow but obviously it's early in the season and most pitches play like that anywhere in the world. The bounce is true but it's slow, but I don't see any reason why it can't last four days of international cricket. I have seen much worse than what we have at the National Sports Centre. I'm very impressed."

l Jacobi Robinson: "I haven't seen too many problems with it in the past. Even when Brian Lara came here it played well. In my opinion, and my club's opinion, the wicket played very true and (the ball) seamed around very nicely. A good cricket wicket that benefits the batsmen and bowlers."

l Garwin Aparacio (Police): "I've been playing cricket for approximately two years and it's by far one of the better wickets I've played on. It is the sort of wicket that what the bowlers put in, they certainly get results. I would like to give some kudos to the guys who prepared the wicket, well done to them."

l Stephen Drake (Leg Trappers): "It was the first time I've played on the wicket at the National Stadium and it was great to play there, the outfield was amazing. At the wicket, I didn't spend a lot of them out there myself, but the boys who did said it played pretty well. I see no reason why we can't play a lot more games there this season."

***

Sunday sees the opening round of 50-over cricket with league champions Young Men's Social club beginning the defence of their title against the team they beat last weekend to win the league, Southampton Rangers, at Devonshire Rec.

Newly promoted Police will welcome St. George's to Police Field while Somerset entertain Cleveland and St. David's welcome Devonshire Rec. back to the top flight when they travel to Lord's.

In the First Division, Leg Trappers, PHC, Flatts and Bailey's Bay are likely to be the main contenders for promotion. Somerset Bridge open their season with a home match against Leg Trappers while PHC are away to the BCB Under-18 team which is playing another season in the First Division and will use the Sports Centre for their home matches.

Warwick host Flatts while Western Stars are at home to Bailey's Bay.