NICKY Peng and wicketkeeper Phil Mustard will be charged with the task of launching Durham Dynamos' innings in today's opening Twenty20 Cup match against Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

After two practice sessions, Australia-born left-hander Ashley Thorpe has also forced his way into contention and could bat in the middle order.

The match at Riverside starts at 5.30 and should end no later than 8.15 with both teams batting for 20 overs.

They will play in their coloured National League outfits and the accent is on family entertainment with the Universal Kidzone operating as on Sundays.

Peng and Mustard will have the licence to go for the sort of shots which saw them put on 50, mainly in boundaries, when they opened in Sunday's National League defeat by Hampshire.

"We will have to split the innings into three," said coach Martyn Moxon. "In the first six overs only two fielders are allowed outside the circle, so we need to take advantage of that.

"In the middle nine we just have to see what the situation is. If we haven't lost any wickets we will continue to be aggressive, otherwise we might have to rebuild. Either way we would hope to push on in the last five overs.

"Bowling-wise we have been practising yorkers and slower balls and working out what fields to set. We have been rushing around between overs, and we have managed to get through them inside the 75-minute limit quite comfortably

"Ashley Thorpe has batted very well and put his name in the forefront.

"He can also bowl a bit and could be a useful player in this form of cricket."

With the same rules for wides and no-balls applying as in the National League, Durham are anxious to avoid the sort of start they had in the field on Sunday, when Ian Hunter was largely responsible for the flurry of wides.

"I don't know what was going on then," said Moxon.

"Hopefully it was just a blip because Ian has been fine in practice and we've had no more than a couple of wides in our two games.

"We have practised with everybody bowling at different stages to give us flexibility. Neil Killeen will probably split his four overs between the start and end of the innings, but some will bowl straight through their allocation."

With Vince Wells now fit to bowl, Danny Law's lack of form with the bat has seen him left out, which is a pity as his powerful striking could have been an asset.

The competition is billed as "twice the action, half the time" and its theme tune "I don't like cricket... I love it" is a remake of the 10cc "Dreadlock Holiday" hit.

With the finances of county cricket looking increasingly precarious the clubs need to attract a new audience and market research has suggested that more women and children will attend this shorter, sharper version of the game.

The 18 first-class counties are divided into regional groups of six, the winners and the best runner-up going to the finals day at Trent Bridge on July 19.

Durham also host Leicester Foxes next Wednesday, then visit Headingley (June 20), Derby (June 23) and Old Trafford (June 24).

Nottinghamshire feature an explosive hitter in 6ft 4in South African Kevin Pietersen, who qualifies by virtue of an English mother. But one of their overseas men, Chris Cairns - another dangerous hitter - is injured, while leg-spinner Stuart MacGill has to join up with the Australian squad next month for a tour of Bangladesh.

Durham are still waiting to hear whether Martin Love will be required for the same tour. Meanwhile he is recovering well from his broken thumb and has a chance of playing in Sunday's National League game at Trent Bridge.

Durham (from): J J B Lewis (capt), N Peng, P Mustard, V J Wells, A Thorpe, M A Gough, G J Pratt, G J Muchall, I D Hunter, N C Phillips, N Killeen, A M Davies, L Plunkett.

* Tickets for Durham's matches are £10 for adults and £5 for children but are half price in advance. Ticket office number: 0191 387 515.