Date-stamped : 24 Jul97 - 07:21
AXA Life League: Edgbaston light show a success

By Peter Deeley at Edgbaston

THE   first  competitive  county game played under floodlights in
this country so captured the imagination of the  Birmingham  pub-
lic last night that traffic congestion brought the Edgbaston area
to a standstill.

On a balmy night close on 10,000 people were in  the  ground  for
the 6.10pm start of the Sunday league match  between Warwickshire
and Somerset, a game scheduled to finish about 11.30pm.

Outside,  the  streets were choked long  after  Warwickshire  had
won  the toss and chosen to bat. Local householders were charging
-L10 for the privilege of parking in front of their drive.

Close on 15,000 spectators were expected but many season-tick- et
holders  were  angry  as  they found the ground`s car  parks full
long before  the  first  ball  was bowled. One  elderly  Warwick-
shire  follower  said:  "You  would think they had never staged a
big  game  be- fore. This is worse than a Test match."

Dennis  Amiss,  Warwickshire`s chief  executive,  estimated  that
despite  costing  -L50,000  the game would produce a profit in the
region of -L70,000  for  the  club.  "I  think that is more  money
than we would make out of a complete County Championship season,"
he said.

There was a carnival atmosphere inside the ground  and  the  War-
wickshire  openers  soon  caught  the mood. Neil Smith and Anurag
Singh were in sparkling form, reaching 113 by the 21st over, when
Smith  was out for 59.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

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