Churchtown Cricket Club will host the Premierwear.co.uk Big Bash at The Rookery on Roe Lane on Sunday, April 30th using Last Man Stands (LMS), a global amateur 8-a-side Twenty 20 cricket game played over approximately 2 hours.

Four team will take part in the tournament that will feature white balls, coloured kits, flashing bails and live music.

There are currently over 4500 teams playing LMS cricket and over 100,000 players across the globe. Last Man Stands is also backed by the English Cricket Board as their main vehicle to increase adult participation in cricket.

Players from a number of cricket clubs across Sefton and West Lancashire will make up three sides - Woodward Vipers, One Stop Warriors and Premier Panthers. They’ll be joined by The Maximum Edge Lions - a squad of Trust in Yellow members (Southport FC Supporters).

At 1pm The Vipers take on The Panthers, before The Lions take on The Warriors at 3pm - the winners will progress into the Premierwear.co.uk Big Bash Final at 5pm.

The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Iain Brodie-Browne will be in attendance to support the event. There is also a reunion of former Churchtown players to mark the clubs’ 30-year anniversary.

An outdoor DJ will keep the crowd entertained along with ladies and junior cricket, live dance performances, face painting, raffle, barbecue and a licenced bar open throughout the day.

Event Sponsor, Geoff Dermott of Premier Wear in Ormskirk, said: “We are really excited to be involved in a great community event, the format of LMS and the entertainment on show will make for a fantastic day of cricket and entertainment for the region.”

The cricket festival in memory of Phil Carder, former Churchtown CC Chairman and Trust in Yellow Treasurer. Previous events have seen more than £500 raised for good causes and Queenscourt Hospice will benefit from proceeds of a grand raffle this year.

John Southworth, Chairman of Churchtown Cricket Club added: “This is the third annual event in memory of Phil and it’s grown into a fitting celebration of all of the things he enjoyed. We are delighted to have more teams involved and we are hoping the exciting LMS cricket will attract more spectators to The Rookery.”

Admission to the event is free. For more information on the event e-mail churchtowncc@hotmail.co.uk. To find out more about Last Man Stands Cricket e-mail chris@lastmanstands.co.uk