NORTHERN Superchargers men’s and women’s teams are back in action this summer as cricket’s newest competition returns to thrill crowds with more fast-paced cricket and action-packed entertainment for all ages.

The action begins with a visit to Manchester Originals for a standalone men’s derby at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday 5 August, before the men’s team hosts Trent Rockets in their first game at Headingley on Tuesday 9 August.

Due to the inclusion of women’s cricket in the Commonwealth Games programme, The Hundred women’s competition will start a few days after the men’s this year. However, once the women’s competition starts on 11 August the fixtures will revert to the popular double-header format, with both men’s and women’s teams playing on the same day – with tickets entitling fans to watch both games.

Superchargers’ women will be in action in the first double header, when they take on reigning champions Oval Invincibles at The Kia Oval on Thursday 11 August. The women’s teams will take the evening slot at The Kia Oval, after the men play mid-afternoon. The first double header at Headingley will be on Sunday 14 August against London Spirit.

Overall, Headingley will host four Northern Superchargers matchdays in August:

• Tuesday 9 August: Northern Superchargers v Trent Rockets, Headingley men 18:30

• Sunday 14 August: Northern Superchargers v London Spirit, Headingley, women 11:00, men 14:30

• Sunday 21 August: Northern Superchargers v Manchester Originals, Headingley, women 15:30, men 19:00

• Wednesday 31 August: Northern Superchargers v Southern Brave, Headingley, women 11:30, men 15:00

Alice Davidson-Richards, who starred in the Northern Superchargers women’s side last year said, “The first year of The Hundred was just fantastic. I loved being a part of the Northern Superchargers team last year. It was a new stage for many for us and the exposure the competition gave to the women’s game was special. It’ll be amazing to be back playing in front of such amazing crowds and feel the atmosphere of thousands of kids and families all getting behind our sport.”

Stadiums were packed out last year1 as crowds enjoyed world-class cricket alongside entertainment from top music acts including Jax Jones and Becky Hill. The Hundred’s ongoing partnership with BBC Music Introducing guarantees another year of top tier live music and performances throughout the competition.

The Hundred will begin this year with defending men’s champions Southern Brave taking on Welsh Fire at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday 3 August. Group stages will end on Wednesday 31 August before the second and third placed teams face each other at the Ageas Bowl in The Hundred Eliminator on Friday 2 September. The winners will face the top ranked team in The Hundred Final on Saturday 3 September at Lord’s.

Tickets will remain unbelievable value for families with prices set at £5 for under 16s and free for children aged five and under. There will be even more activities around the ground to entertain families alongside the world class cricket on the pitch. And ticket buyers will be able to choose their own seats this year with family-friendly zones in every venue.

Sanjay Patel, Managing Director for The Hundred said, “The Hundred helped grow the game last year. With more than 500,000 tickets sold and issued and 16 million watching on TV – with half of them being new to cricket – we saw a new audience enjoying the game for the first time. We can’t wait to build on that this year, bringing world class cricket and an incredible family day out to fans across England and Wales.”

The first year of The Hundred saw 510,000 tickets sold and issued as the competition welcomed new and existing fans. Grounds across the country posted sell-outs and 19% of all tickets sold were for under 16s. 55% of ticket buyers for The Hundred hadn’t bought a ticket for cricket in this country before while attendances across the competition were the highest for a women’s cricket event globally ever.