The Wangaratta and District Cricket Association hopes tonight’s one-day final between Bruck and City Colts under lights at Norm Minns Oval will help attract international cricket back to the venue.

The showground has not hosted an international team since Victoria played the West Indies in 1996.

And a state one-day game between the Bushrangers and NSW was held at the centre in 2006.

WDCA president Gary Lidgerwood said the ground’s $700,000 lighting upgrade had given the association confidence to bid for international and state games.

He said the association would ask Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria about hosting World Cup matches in 2015, with Cricket Albury-Wodonga bosses seeking matches at Lavington Oval.

“We hope it’s a start of bigger things,” Lidgerwood said yesterday.

“This could lead to District (Victorian Premier League) and state games under lights here.

“And we’d love to get international games back — this is the start of the big picture.”

The WDCA will tonight have the honour of playing the first sporting match under lights at the oval. Last week it hosted the Wangaratta Gift and Wheelrace under the new lights for the first time.

Lidgerwood said the one-day final would be the perfect build-up for the AFL’s NAB Cup match between St Kilda and Essendon on March 3.

“It’s the first time we’ve had cricket under lights,” he said.

“It will be a great dress rehearsal for the AFL match.

“The game is fully catered for and entry is free.

“We want to promote cricket and the lights.

“The electronic scoreboard and the whole works will be on show.

“I’d like to thank the bike racing club for allowing us to have a Friday night game and the council for allowing us to use the time slot.

“Barry Grant has been doing the preparation and thinks the wicket will come up well.

“The ground is an absolute picture at the moment.”

The 40-over game starts at 5pm and will conclude about 10.30pm.

Coloured equipment will be used as well as a black sightscreen and a four-piece white Kookaburra ball.

The association hopes to attract a big crowd and, if the night format is successful, make it a regular fixture.

“It will be interesting to see how many people turn up,” Lidgerwood said.

“We are just want as many as possible to enjoy a free night out.

“I don’t want to put a number on it.”