THE thrill and excitement of Twenty20 cricket returns in Bendigo this weekend.

The Bendigo District Cricket Association Twenty20 season hits off with the opening round on Sunday.

As part of the Twenty20 competition, Bush’s Produce Stores will again sponsor the Addy’s Twenty20 Player of the Year Award.

The prize is a $500 Bush’s Produce Stores in-store voucher.

Bush’s Produce Stores, established in 1857, specialises in premium petstock, farm supplies, fish and aquarium products, and garden and lawn seed varieties.

“Last year we had tremendous success with the inaugural Bush’s T20 Player of The Year and with the quality of the cricket on offer and the interest in T20 continuing to increase, Bush’s is once again excited to be involved,” Bush’s Nick Crawford said on Friday.

Sunday’s opening round will feature a double-header at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

The double-header kicks off at 2pm when Bendigo takes on Golden Square.

It will be followed at 5pm when defending champions Huntly-North Epsom meet White Hills.

Other round one games:

Strathdale-Maristians v Sandhurst, 2pm at All Seasons Oval.

Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat, 2pm at Flight Centre Park.

Bendigo United v Eaglehawk, 2pm at Harry Trott Oval.

As part of the Strathdale-Sandhurst game, any catch taken in the crowd will win a $50 All Seasons Hotel gift voucher.

The BDCA has this season changed the structure of its Twenty20 format.

Gone is the former two-pool system.

Instead, there will be just one ladder, with the semi-finals to be played as 1 v 4 and 2 v 3.