FOUR new teams will enter the Dorchester and District Evening Cricket League, it has been revealed at the league’s AGM.

Winfrith and Weymouth make welcome returns after a few years away, while Beaminster and Milborne St Andrew join to extend the area covered by the league.

Three divisions with promotion and relegation plus the Doug Read Memorial Cup should keep all 22 sides active.

With another rain belt approaching and England wickets clattering in India, thoughts turn to this summer’s evening cricket league with matches from May to July all around west Dorset.

READ MORE: Dorchester Casuals complete league and cup double

Dorchester Casuals will be looking to repeat last season’s cup and league double but previous winners Puddletown, St George’s and Cattistock will be keen to take trophies, as indeed will be Charlton Down, Martinstown and newly-promoted Bere Regis.

Division Two looks set to become a good contest with Hazelbury Bryan eager to get back to the top tier and New Look/ASM up from Division Three to show their mettle.

The cup draw has thrown up some intriguing ties, with heavyweights Charlton Down and St George’s to meet in the first round. A win for Charlton Down would bring them up against their own second team.

All games in league and cup follow T20 rules, though many early in the season use fewer overs, are timed to start at 6.30pm and aim to have two neutral umpires at every game.

Umpires secretary, Ian Springer, is always willing to hear from new umpires.

Thanks are due to chairman, Phil Titterington and the rest of his committee for the competent organisation, to main sponsor, Read Woodruff and to all teams and players for the consistently excellent ‘spirit of cricket’ shown.