The Benson and Hedges Super Cup - a new 50 Overs-A-Side One-Day competition - begins this week with eight Counties bidding for a place in the showpiece final at Lord's on Sunday, August 1.

The teams, who qualified for the competition by finishing in the top eight in last year's County Championship, are: Leicestershire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Warwickshire.

Benson and Hedges Super Cup Quarter Final Draw

Friday, June 25: Lancashire v Sussex at Old Trafford
Friday, June 25: Yorkshire v Hampshire at Headingley
Saturday, June 26: Leicestershire v Warwickshire at Leicester
Sunday, June 27: Gloucestershire v Surrey at Bristol

The competition will be played on a knock-out basis with semi-finals being staged on Saturday, July 10 and Sunday July 11. The final will be held at Lord's on Sunday, August 1st.

Sky Sports will provide live coverage of all stages of the competition including the final. The draw for the semi-final stages of the competition will be made live on Sky News and BBC Radio 5 Live at 8.20 am on Monday, June 28.

ECB Chief Executive Tim Lamb said: ``The Benson and Hedges Super Cup is a new and exciting addition to the domestic cricket calendar. With a place in a Lord's final at stake and interest in One-Day cricket at a premium following the World Cup, we anticipate the competition will generate widespread interest.''

For further information contact:

Andrew Walpole, ECB Media Relations Officer 0171 4321252