New Zealand expand domestic Twenty20 competiton

New Zealand will run an expanded Twenty20 competition in 2006-07.

A round-robin format will operate next season, with matches starting on January 11 and finishing with a final on February 3.

"The inaugural domestic Twenty20 cricket competition was popular last year and brought crowds back to the domestic game. We expect this year's competition to build on that success," Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said. "This year's competition will feature new state Twenty20 uniforms which will help add to the appeal of the fast-paced matches."

The State Championship - the four-day first-class competition, gets underway in mid November with the first two rounds to be played in Canterbury to take advantage of the settled weather.