SOUTH Wilts will begin their assault on a record fourth successive ECB Southern Electric Premier League crown in May against two of the three clubs that beat them last season.

The bid for a unique fourth crown in a row begins on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground on May 2 and continues at Bemerton a week later when Lymington are the visitors.

South Wilts lost by 45 runs to the Academy in a rainaffected meet-up at Bemerton and went down by six wickets to Lymington a month later, ironically the day after Tom Morton’s side had thrashed them in the Southern Electric t20 Cup final under the Ageas Bowl floodlights.

The Premier League continues in its split 50-over/all-day ‘time’ cricket format this summer.

  • Third in the table last season, South Wilts will be among seven second teams playing in Premier Division 3. They begin against Basingstoke & North Hants II at Bemerton on May 2 and visit newly-promoted Lymington a week later.