ALL the razzmatazz of Twenty20 cricket will be returning to Exmouth next summer after Somerset confirmed they will play Devon again in the crash-bang-wallop form of the game.

   Exmouth pulled in a four-figure crowd for last summer's game between Devon and Somerset on the Maer - the first time the two counties had faced each other for more than 16 years at first-team level.

   One of the star attractions in the Somerset side was Aussie batsman Justin Langer, who had just flown into the country and was making his debut that night.

   The match raised thousands of pounds for youth cricket in Devon – and the county were keen for a rematch in 2007 to boost the coffers again.

   At one stage it appeared cricket fans were going to be disappointed as Somerset had no free dates on their fixture list.

   But, thanks to the intervention of retired Somerset chief executive Peter Anderson, who lives at Beer and is chairman of Seaton CC, the game is back on again.

   “Somerset used the game this year as a warm-up for the National Twenty20 Cup, but simply couldn't squeeze it in at the same time next year,” said Anderson.

   “However, they have found space at the end of July and if all goes according to plan Somerset will be playing in the semi-finals of the National Twenty20 later that week.

   “Somerset have bent over backwards to find a way of playing the game. It is good to see them supporting cricket in this way.”

The game between Devon and Somerset at Exmouth will be on Thursday, August 2 with a 5.15pm start.