SOUTH Wilts Cricket Club are through to the second round of two prestigious limited-over knockout competitions – without having to bowl a ball in anger.

As holders, South Wilts got an automatic bye in the opening round of the Southern Electric twenty20 Cup, which they have won under the Ageas Bowl floodlights for the past two seasons.

The Premier League champions also pulled out a free passage through round one of the ECB’s Royal London national club championship, which begins in late April.

South Wilts could face a testing home tie against Potterne in round two, if the West of England League side wins at Totton & Eling.

Tom Morton has his eyes firmly focussed on leading South Wilts to a fourth successive championship this summer and, judging by an extensive warm-up programme, the Bemerton side should hit the ground running with the SEPL season kickstarting on May 2.

South Wilts will dust off the cobwebs with an Easter Saturday inter-club game before embarking on a series of four pre-season friendlies.

South Wilts’ opening Premier League games on May 2 are at the Hampshire Academy and Basingstoke & North Hants II at Bemerton.