The Hundred to keep floodlights on throughout Wednesday matches during solar eclipse

Floodlights will be kept on throughout all four Hundred matches on Wednesday as a solar eclipse is set to darken the skies across the UK, according to a report in Sky Sports.

Up to 90 per cent of the sun will be obscured by the moon during the eclipse, which is expected to take place between 6.17pm and 8.06pm BST, with the phenomenon reaching its peak shortly after 7pm.

It will be the first partial solar eclipse visible in the UK for 27 years. The eclipse will be visible across Europe, with some parts of the continent experiencing a total eclipse as the sun, moon, and Earth align.

As the moon moves across the sun, daylight is expected to fade noticeably, while temperatures could drop and wind conditions may change direction. The sun will gradually reappear after the eclipse, bringing daylight back.

There are four hundred matches scheduled for Wednesday, with all of them live on Sky Sports.

Welsh Fire women will face London Spirit women at 11.30am BST in Cardiff, followed by the men’s game at 3pm BST. Birmingham Phoenix women will host MI London at Edgbaston from 3pm BST, before the men’s teams play each other at 6.30pm BST.

In anticipation of the solar eclipse, organisers will keep the floodlights on throughout all four matches. Additional messaging will also be issued to fans attending the games.

Experts have warned spectators not to look directly at the sun without proper protection. Only specially designed solar eclipse glasses that meet certified safety standards should be used to view the eclipse.

The solar eclipse is also expected to affect horse racing in the UK, with Kempton set to stage racing on Wednesday.

While the twilight meeting at Ffos Las will begin and end earlier than originally scheduled to ensure all six races take place in daylight, there are no such issues at Kempton because the Sunbury circuit has floodlights.

The floodlights will also be switched on at Kempton racecourse, with the eclipse expected to occur between 7.02pm and 7.16pm BST. Kempton has races scheduled for 7pm and 7.30pm BST.

Kempton clerk of the course Barney Clifford said the floodlights would be switched on early to ensure the meeting is not affected by the changing light conditions.

“The last one was nearly 30 years ago so I wasn’t quite at Kempton then. I remember it but there were no floodlights in those days!” Clifford said.

“I’m going to put the floodlights on early doors. I know they have predicted a time for it but you don’t quite know how much of the sun is going to be covered and for what race so we’ll have the lights on plenty early enough.”

The decision to keep the floodlights on throughout the Hundred matches is designed to ensure the games can continue without disruption despite the temporary reduction in natural light caused by the eclipse.

– Ends