St David’s begin the defence of their Twenty20 Premier Division title against unbeaten Southampton Rangers today at Lord’s.

The Islanders won the competition for the second straight year after beating East End rivals St George’s in last year’s final.

St David’s will face Rangers in the second match of a double header at Lord’s to begin at 3pm before Flatts and Eastern Counties rivals Cleveland County lock horns in the opening Twenty20 fixture that kicks off at 11am.

Elsewhere, Bay will host last year’s beaten finalists St George’s at Sea Breeze Oval in the remaining Twenty20 Premier League contest.

There are also three Twenty20 First Division fixtures scheduled for today.

PHC will host Western Counties rivals Somerset Bridge in the first match of a double header at PHC Field to begin at 11am with last year’s beaten finalists Warwick taking on Devonshire in the second match which starts at 3pm.

Western Stars will host Somerset in the remaining Twenty20 First Division match at St John’s Field starting at 11am while Willow Cuts have a bye.

A new Twenty20 First Division champion will be crowned this year as holders Flatts have been promoted to the Premier Division.

Twenty20 action then continues tomorrow in both divisions.

Bay and Rangers will meet for the second time in a week in the second match of a Twenty20 Premier Division double header at Sea Breeze Oval to start at 3pm. Rangers edged Bay by two-runs during an ill-tempered top-of-the-table clash in the One 50 overs Premier Division at Southampton Oval last Sunday.

Flatts will meet St George’s in the opening Twenty20 Premier clash at Sea Breeze starting at 11am while Cleveland and St David’s will face each other for the second time in exactly a week at Wellington Oval.

St David’s beat Cleveland by 97 runs in the previous meeting between the two teams at the same venue in the One 50 overs Premier Division.

In tomorrow’s opening round of Twenty20 First Division fixtures, Willow Cuts host Devonshire in the first match of a double header at Somerset Cricket Club starting at 11am with hosts Somerset taking on PHC in the second starting at 3pm.

The remaining First Division encounter pits Somerset Bridge against Warwick at White Hill Field starting from 11am while Western Stars have a bye.