Regional WA’s marquee Twenty20 cricket tournament expands to three days of action

A dual World Cup winner, former Big Bash League stars and an Irish international will compete with dozens of the State’s best young talents as Albany hosts regional WA’s marquee T20 cricket tournament.

A three-day cricket spectacular will launch on Sunday when the second edition of the Southern Smash gets under way.

Games will be live-streamed at thewest.com.au.

After a successful inaugural tournament last year, the Southern Smash has expanded from four teams to six and also added a string of former international and State cricket stars.

Headlined by former Australian spinner Brad Hogg, the Smash also features former BBL stars Travis Birt, Tom Beaton and Ryan Duffield along with Ireland international Sean Terry and ex-WA first-class bowler Josh Nicholas.

A showpiece of cricket in WA, the Smash starts on Sunday, December 27, with the newly formed under-21 exhibition match at 3pm.

The match features a host of the Great Southern’s best young talent on the centre stage.

An official player welcome will take place at 6pm on the same day, as the six teams welcome their selection of travelling players.

The Summer Cricket Clinic for the kids will starts Monday’s festivities and will be run run by BBL pair Beaton and Duffield along with top-level coach Charlie Burke, who coached Hong Kong’s international team.

The clinic is for children aged 10-17 and will take place from 9-11am at the North Road nets.

The cost is $50 and includes a Southern Smash cap.

The tournament proper will start at noon on Monday as the six franchises take to the field in their round one fixtures.

Round two will start at 3.30pm with two games before the marquee match between Hogg’s Inswing Ignition and Birt’s Camtrans Bulldogs takes place on the main ground at 4pm.

Player awards will be at the cricket pavilion at 7.30pm.

Two semifinals will be played at 11am on Tuesday and a wooden spoon play-off between fifth and sixth is at noon.

The grand final will be played at Turf North at 3.30pm followed by the tournament presentations.

Full bar and canteen facilities are available and spectator entry is free.

SOUTHERN SMASH 2020 FIXTURES

Monday, December 28

Round 1

Elders Avengers v Retravision Warriors – Turf East, Noon

Camtrans Bulldogs v Arc Infrastructure Aces – Turf South, Noon

Albany Finance Fury v Inswing Ignition – Turf North, Noon

Round 2

Arc Infrastructure Aces V Elders Avengers - Turf South, 3.30pm

Albany Finance Fury v Retravision Warriors – Turf East, 3.30pm

Inswing Ignition v Camtrans Bulldogs – Turf North, 4pm

Tuesday, December 29

Semifinals

1st v 4th - Turf North, 11am

2nd v 3rd - Turf South, 11am

Playoff

5th v 6th - Turf East, Noon

Grand Final

Semifinal 1 winner v Semifinal 2 winner - Turf North, 3.30pm