Extra-time possible in Twenty20 Floodlit Cup

Essex, Sussex, Derbyshire and Glamorgan contest the inaugural Twenty20 Floodlit Cup, starting this week with the semi-final stage.

The competition was set up towards the end of last season among the four counties to have permanent floodlights at their headquarters (at that time).

Sussex and Essex meet over two legs at Hove and Chelmsford on Tuesday and Thursday respectively while Glamorgan and Derbyshire meet over corresponding days in the other semi-final.

Should either tie end with one victory apiece then a period of extra-time will be played after the second semi-final. This will consist of an additional period of four-overs-per-side - or Four4 if you like - to decide the winners.

In a week of historical firsts in cricket, it is understand that should either (or both) game be decided in this manner then it would be the first such occasion when 'extra-time' has been used to finish a game.

The semi-final winners will then meet in a two-legged final on September 13 and 15 and the losers will meet in a third-place play-off on the same dates (with extra-time again coming into operation if required).