Commercial League cricketers will get a chance to see just how good they are later this month when they enter a Select XI in the Island's Twenty20 competition.

Bermuda Cricket Board have invited the league to take part in the competition that begins on Sunday, August 29, and runs until Sunday, Spetember 26.

And the long held suspicision that Commercial League teams could be more than a match for some of their First Division rivals will be put to the test straight away when they open their campaign against Western Stars in St David's.

It is the first time that the Commercial League will take part in a BCB competition, and it is a challenge the league is relishing. Still, they have been placed in the hardest of the two eight-team groups, and as well as facing Western Stars, they will also come up against Premier Division teams, Willow Cuts, Bailey's Bay, and St David's.

"Our five clubs are really looking forward to this fresh challenge although it's not the first time we been asked," said a spokesman.

"A few years ago then-national coach Mark Harper invited us to put two teams, the league champions and a Select XI, in a BCB knockout tournament. We snapped up the offer but for some reason BCB clubs voted against the proposal."

The CCL have appointed Dave Greenidge, skipper of league champions Spring Garden Cavaliers, as captain of their Twenty20 side. All five clubs have been asked to submit the names of three players, plus two reserves, to league president Armell Thomas to form a squad of 25.

Although the opening round of matches clashes with the CCL's Knockout final, their last game of the season, the CCL spokesman said: "We can work around it as we'll still have three clubs to pick a team from for the opener."

The 16 team competition will also include Leg Trappers, and the Bermuda Under-19s, with Southampton Rangers, who were banned last year for failing to show at their third-place play-off game, and Police the only clubs not taking part.

Of the other two, Leg Trappers have yet to play any cricket this season, having pulled out of the First Division for the year, while the Under-19s could be the competition's surprise package.

With the likes of Deunte Darrell, Joshua Gilbert, Kamau Leverock, Christian Burgess and Kevon Fubler all in the team, they have more than enough talent to give the other sides a run for their money.

And while some clubs might object to losing their talented youngsters, the tournament will help in preparing a side that has a big year ahead of it, with the World Cup qualifiers due to be held early next year.

n Oronde Bascome scored a half century as St George's took control of the First Division on Sunday. In the only domestic game to survive the wet weather, St George's made 241 for eight, before bowling out Cleveland for 176. The 65 run lead gives Bascome's side a four point lead over Social Club at the top of the table.

Lindos Twenty20 Competition

Group A: Warwick, Willow Cuts, YMSC, Bailey's Bay, Commercial League XI, St David's, Western Stars, Under-19s.

Group B: Somerset, Somerset Bridge, Cleveland, Devosnhire Rec, Leg Trappers, Flatts, St George's, PHC.

Fixtures

Saturday, August 29

Somerset CC: Warwick v Willow Cuts, 11am; Somerset v Somerset Bridge, 3pm.

St David's: Commercial Lge XI v Western Stars, 11am; St. David's v YMSC, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: Cleveland v Devonshire Rec, 11am; Bailey's Bay v BCB Under-19s, 3pm.

Wellington Oval: Leg Trappers v PHC, 11am; St. George's v Flatts, 3pm.

Saturday, Spetember 4

Devonshire Rec: YMSC v Warwick, 11am; Somerset Bridge v Devonshire Rec, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: Willow Cuts v Bailey's Bay, 11am; Cleveland v Somerset, 3pm.

Southampton Oval: BCB Under 19 v Commercial Lge XI, 11am; Western Stars v St. David's, 3pm.

Wellington Oval: Leg Trappers v Flatts Victoria, 11am; St. George's v PHC, 3pm.

Sunday, September 5

St John's Field: Commercial Lge XI v Willow Cuts, 11am; Western Stars v YMSC, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: Bailey's Bay v Warwick, 11am; St. David's v BCB Under 19, 3pm.

Somerset CC: Somerset Bridge v Cleveland, 11am; Somerset v Leg Trappers, 3pm.

Wellington Oval: Flatts Victoria v PHC, 11am; St. George's v Devonshire Rec, 3pm.

Saturday, September 11

Sea Breeze Oval: Warwick v Commercial Lge XI, 11am; Cleveland v Flatts Victoria, 3pm.

Wellington Oval: YMSC v Bailey's Bay, 11am; St. George's v Leg Trappers, 3pm

Southampton Oval: Willow Cuts v St. David's, 11am; PHC v Somerset Bridge, 3pm

Somerset CC: Somerset CC v Devonshire Rec, 11am; BCB Under-19 v Western Stars, 3pm.

Sunday, September 12

Somerset CC: Western Stars v Willow Cuts, 11am; Somerset v St. George's, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: St. David's v Warwick, 11am; Commercial Lge XI v Bailey's Bay, 3pm.

Southampton Oval: Somerset Bridge v Flatts Victoria, 11am; PHC v Cleveland, 3pm.

Devonshire Rec: Devonshire Rec v Leg Trappers, 11am; BCB Under 19 v YMSC, 3pm.

Saturday, September 18

Southampton Oval: YMSC v Commercial Lge XI, 11am; PHC v Somerset, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: Bailey's Bay v St. David's, 11am; Willow Cuts v BCB Under 19, 3pm.

Wellington Oval: Somerset Bridge v St. George's, 11am; Leg Trappers v Cleveland, 3pm.

Devosnhire Rec: Warwick v Western Stars, 11am; Devonshire Rec v Flatts, 3pm.

Sunday, Spetember 19

Southampton Oval: YMSC v Willow Cuts, 11am; PHC v Devonshire Rec, 3pm.

Welington Oval: BCB Under 19 v Warwick, 11am; Leg Trappers v Somerset Bridge, 3pm.

Sea Breeze Oval: Western Stars v Bailey's Bay, 11am; Cleveland v St. George's, 3pm.

St David's: Flatts v Somerset, 11am; St. David's v Commercial Lge XI, 3pm.

Saturday, Spetember 25

National Sports Centre: Semi-finals, 11am & 3pm.

Sunday, September 26

National Sports Centre: Finals day.