Changes have been approved to the points system for 50-over games in the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League for this season.

Clubs at the annual meeting at High Wycombe CC on Tuesday agreed that winning sides in this format will receive 20 points rather than 25.

In addition, losing sides will be able to claim more batting and bowling bonus points.

The changes have been introduced as it was felt the points differential between winners and losers in this format was too great.

The Duckworth/Lewis Method will also be introduced for rain-afffected 50-over matches.

The season will again be split between 50-over games and time matches, and in the latter, Division 1 games switch from a 66/54 overs split to 64/56. Division 2 matches will now be 58/52 rather than 60/50.

Winning sides in these games will continue to pick up 25 points.

With the Hertfordshire clubs breaking away, the league will have just two divisions, with promotion and relegation on a two-up and two-down basis, with two sides to be relegated from Division .

It was also reported that the England & Wales Cricket Board had confirmed their backing of the competition as a premier league.

A presentation was made to Raymond Wood, the league’s founder chairman, who stepped down after 14 years, with Banbury CC’s Martin Phillips being confirmed as his successor.

Wood remains on the committee, though, after being co-opted as acting treasurer.

OFFICERS ELECTED

Chairman: M Phillips; secretary: P Tomlin; fixture secretary: J Goodman; acting treasurer: R Wood; committee members: D Burden, R Evans, D Morris, M Simmons, K Newell, G Stearn.