TWO easy wins and a maximum 44 points in the bag.

It adds up to a perfect start for South Wilts as they chase what would be amazing fifth successive ECB Southern Premier League championship title.

But those wins came against Ventnor and the Hampshire Academy – the two sides currently bottom of the pile and generally expected to be the teams fighting for survival at the end – and skipper James Hayward is under no illusions about the far tougher task that lie ahead.

“Our season starts on Saturday when St Cross Symondians come to Bemerton, after which we play Lymington and Havant,” he warned.

“That’s crunch time – and when we’ll need to stand up and be counted.

“St Cross gave us a hell of a game in the corresponding match last season, and have won both their matches, so this is a major test.”

But South Wilts can only beat what’s put in front of them and the Academy win was effectively in the bag once the Ageas Bowl teens had been reduced to 86-6, Army all-rounder Stephen Booth taking 3-21.

Joe Weatherley (24), Ben Duggan (20) and KES student Patrick Holly (22) all made starts for the Academy, whose fortunes improved when Hampton School all-rounder Chris Searle (44) and Harry Gadd (32) almost doubled the score.

James Hibberd (3-20) returned to tidy up the tail and leave the Academy 186 all out.

South Wilts saw William Wade yorked by Josh McCoy, but South Australia Under-19 captain Jake Winter teed off and hit 46 (38 in boundaries) out of the champions’ 63-2.

Jack Mynott (66) and James Hayward (48) took South Wilts home on the back of an unbroken 125-run third-wicket partnership.