A BRACE of midweek Twenty20 matches between England and West Indies at the Brit Oval at the end of June and an extended programme of one-day internationals — three against West Indies, an over-egged seven against India — makes for an even busier 2007 season than the one drawing to its close this year.

“ECB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India have had a longstanding agreement that India’s tour would directly reciprocate the three Test matches and seven one-day internationals played by the England team in India this year,” John Carr, the director of cricket operations, said.

Neutrals will hope that the West Indies star has been raised by events in next year’s World Cup because India offer much the stronger and more attractive opposition at present. Of recent international venues only Cardiff, busy redeveloping, will not stage a big match next season.

Houghton Main, a former pit village near Barnsley, won the npower Village Cup at Lord’s yesterday, beating Timsbury by four wickets in a tense final after two sixes in the penultimate over by Nicky Bisby.

Timsbury, from Somerset, scored 184 for six, built around an excellent 72 by Mark Sage, their captain and the man of the match. It was the third time that Sage had lost at Lord’s, having been beaten twice in the final of the National Club Knockout Cup with Bath.

Houghton Main were in trouble at 31 for four and things got worse when Bisby retired hurt on 11. But Luke Jeffs and some big hitting by Chris Head pushed the Yorkshire side ahead of the required rate.

Tight bowling by Neil Hucker and Steve Clothier set up a nail-biting finish, but an unbeaten stand of 46 between Bisby, who had returned with a runner, and Ron Collins saw Houghton Main home.

ITINERARY

ENGLAND v WEST INDIES May 17-21, 2007: First Test, Lord’s May 25-29: Second Test, Headingley

Carnegie June 7-11: Third Test, Old Trafford June 15-19: Fourth Test, Riverside Twenty20 June 28: Brit Oval June 29: Brit Oval One-day series July 1: Lord’s July 4: Edgbaston July 7: Trent Bridge

ENGLAND v INDIA July 19-23: First Test, Lord’s July 27-31: Second Test, Trent Bridge Aug 9-13: Third Test, the Brit Oval One-day series Aug 21: Southampton (day/night) Aug 24: Bristol (d/n) Aug 27: Edgbaston Aug 30: Old Trafford (d/n) Sept 2: Headingley Carnegie Sept 5: Brit Oval Sept 8: Lord’s