THE Cherwell League will play 50-over cricket next season – but only in the top flight.

At the league’s annual meeting, clubs voted strongly in favour of playing half the Division 1 programme in 2016 on a limited-overs basis.

The other half will keep the existing 53-47 over split, with draws a possibility.

League chairman Clive Ricks explained: “Younger players tend to prefer the limited overs cricket.

“And it now bring us into line with the Home Counties Premier League (HCPL), which we feed clubs into.”

On the same night, the Thames Valley League – the other feeder into the HCPL – approved a similar proposal.

Unlike the HCPL, the Cherwell will play the limited overs competition in the middle of the summer, rather than at the beginning and end of the campaign.

“We feel that the toss becomes more important early and late in the season, and it would be fairer to play the 50-over games in mid-summer,” added Ricks.

The points system for these matches will be decided at a later point.

As to whether, the 50-over matches will be introduced in to the rest of the league in the future, Ricks added: “We’ll see how it goes in Division 1 first.”

Meanwhile, OCA champions Westbury’s application was approved and they will field teams in Division 4 and Division 8 next season.

David Beck (Horley) succeeds Dick Giles (Kingston Bagpuize) as league secretary, while Chris Bishop was elected onto the committee.