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ST JOHN’S, Antigua -- The West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Four-day First-class competition is set to bowl off on Friday with the return of pink ball matches under lights. Trinidad and Tobago will face Combined Campuses and Colleges in the season’s first match using the pink ball at the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies. First ball is 3.30 pm (2.30 pm Jamaica).

The other first round matches will be day games. Defending champions Jamaica go in search of a fifth consecutive title when they face Windward Islands at Sabina Park. In the other match Guyana take on Leeward Islands at Windsor Park in Dominica. Barbados have drawn a bye.

Speaking on Thursday, Dr Ernest Hilaire, chief executive officer of the WICB, said this season promises to be an exciting one for the region’s best players and the passionate spectators across the Caribbean.

“The Four-day First-class competition is an important and integral part of the WICB’s annual calendar as we seek to develop high-quality players to represent the West Indies at the international level. The first-class season has a strong tradition across the region dating back to the 1800s. As we enter the 2012 season we expect more competitive contests between the seven teams. We urge the players to play in the true spirit of the game as they are ambassadors for our beautiful game,” Hilaire said.

“This year we have decided to re-introduce the pink ball, which met with the approval of players and fans back in 2010. The pink ball adds a new dimension to the season and is sure to bring added excitement and entertainment. We see it as part of the way forward as we look to broaden the spectator base and prepare our players.”

Hilaire added: “We saw large turn-outs during the recent successful hosting of the WICB Caribbean T20, and we expect that level of interest to continue. At the WICB, we aim to bring the game back to the fans and we believe the format of having day-night cricket in the four-day tournament is one way to generate public interest and create a win-win situation for all our stakeholders.”

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