BEER and cricket lovers will have an afternoon to savour when the Black Country Beer Festival hosts a charity Twenty20 match this Friday (August 12).

As part of the annual festival at Lye Cricket Club, which is taking place between today (Thursday, August 11) and Saturday (August 13), two teams representing Mary Stevens Hospice and Powerleague Halesowen Community Club will face off.

The seventh Black Country Beer Festival continues to grow each time out and this year the number of different ales, cider and perries has been increased to 130.

Throughout the three days the festival will feature live music, either outside the large beer marquee which has been set up just for the event, or within the club house.

Food stalls will also be present serving freshly cooked pizzas, faggots and peas, Hog Roast and a selection of cobs.

Jake Hanson, Lye Cricket Club secretary and beer festival organiser, said: “We are all set. The marquee is up and the beer is in and we are really looking forward to welcoming the community to the club from Thursday evening.

“It is the seventh time we have ran the festival and it is getting bigger each year. We expect to see about 2,000 people here during all three days.

“Mary Stevens Hospice has been chosen as the festival’s charity of the year and, as well as the cricket match on Friday, staff and volunteers from the hospice will be running a stand here throughout the weekend where we hope they can raise plenty of money for a great local cause.”

The charity cricket match, which is due to start at 2pm on Friday, will be raising funds, as well as awareness for the Stourbridge charity.

Amanda Bowen, the hospice’s community engagement officer, said: “We’re so excited to have been picked as the Black Country Beer Festival’s Charity of the Year.

“They’ve offered us a great opportunity for us to really engage with our community, have a bit of fun and spread the word about the work that we do for so many families in the Black Country, and we’re incredibly grateful to the guys for supporting us.

“It's shaping up to be a fantastic festival, and we have to say that both the music line-up and the cricket matches this year look brilliant, in particular our competitive debut against the team from Powerleague Halesowen Community Club.

“We may be a charity, however they shouldn’t expect any good will or compassion as soon as we take to the pitch. We’re there to win.”

For more information about the Black Country Beer Festival visit www.blackcountrybeerfestival.com