Four local cricket clubs have been heavily penalised by the Southern Electric Premier and Hampshire Leagues for fielding unregistered overseas players in matches this season.

Premier League duo Hambledon and Hook & Newnham Basics lost all the points they gained from separate Division 3 matches last month.

Hambledon have been docked the 20 points they collected from beating Redlynch & Hale by 51 runs on May 11 as their Australian all-rounder Lee Burns did not possess a Level 1 ECB coaching qualification, required under league rules.

Hook & Newnham, already struggling in Division 3, paid a double penalty for twice fielding South African Lloyd Moore, whom they had omitted to register.

They were deducted the nine bonus points they gained from consecutive defeats by Purbrook and New Milton.

Sarisbury Athletic's Hampshire League promotion bid has been hit by an 11-point deduction for including unregistered Indian all-rounder Amog Pandit in the May 11 tied County Division 1 match with Calmore Sports.

And newly-promoted Pyewell Park lost 19 points for omitting to register their overseas player, David Mandy, who helped them beat Crown Taverners on the opening day of the season.

All four overseas cricketers are now eligible to play for their respective clubs.