London, Dec 11 (AFP/APP): Lord’s and Hove will stage next year’s inaugural finals of English cricket’s controversial new Hundred competition, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced Tuesday. Hove, in Sussex, will be the venue for the women’s final on August 14, with Lord’s, widely regarded as the sport’s spiritual home, staging the men’s final on August 15. “‘The Home of Cricket’ is a great setting for the final of this brand new competition, which will provide MCC the opportunity to welcome many more young people and families into the ground, including the Pavilion, not only for the final but across the group stages with our team, London Spirit,” said MCC chief executive Guy Lavender in a statement. Hove is one of England’s leading venues for women’s cricket, having been sold out for women’s internationals and the Twenty20 Super League finals in recent years. The Hundred is a new tournament consisting of eight city-based franchise sides, breaking away from the traditional county system. Teams will bat for 100 balls each with overs lasting for 10 balls and bowlers either bowling five or 10 balls consecutively. The players’ draft was held in October but opposition remains amid concerns over fixture congestion … Continue reading Lord’s and Hove to stage inaugural Hundred finals