Youth will be to the fore on Wanganui's cricket pitches for the next three weeks with the Cricket Festival putting the stumps in yesterday.
Four teams in the Under 16 grade got proceedings under way with 40-over games as Wanganui took on Manawatu, while Auckland faced Kapiti.
The action will intensify next Tuesday with the girls Under 15/Under 17 tournaments at the Victoria and Springvale parks.
Competing will be the top Under 15 representative girls teams from the major associations like Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Northern Districts and Central Districts.
At the same time, the Under 17 teams of Wanganui, Manawatu and Taranaki will also be taking part.