Rejuvenated Bailey?s Bay are set to make a first appearance in the Belco Cup competition when they take on defending champions Southampton Rangers at Lords in one of two semi-finals to be held on June 10.

Western Stars lock horns with last year?s beaten finalists St.David?s at Somerset Cricket Club in the other semi-final.

The final will be held on June 11 at Lords.

Bay last appeared in the competition when it was referred to as the Camel Cup in 1999, two years after winning the coveted showpiece for a third time in 1997.

The original competition was launched in 1987 and titled the Premier Cup before Camel took over sponsorship from 1989 to 2002.

Devonshire Recreation Club were the inaugural winners of the competition, having defeated Bay by 73 runs in 1987, while St.George?s have won the trophy a record five times and remain the only club to win three championships in successive seasons.

St.George?s have also appeared in the most finals (nine) between 1988 and 2003.

2004 champions Stars have won the competition four times while Rangers and St.David?s each have two titles to their credit.

St.David?s were the last team to win back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 ? a feat Rangers will be gunning for next weekend ? while Devonshire are the only club to have scored 300 runs in the final.

During a press conference yesterday, Belco president and CEO Garry Madeiros said: ?This is a big year for us as we celebrate Belco?s 100th anniversary and it?s a big year for Bermudian cricket as the national team advance and enthusiasm for the sport grows.

?We are confident that together Belco and the BCB (Bermuda Cricket Board) will produce an exceptional 2006 Belco Cup match and I hope families will come out to enjoy the games together.?

This year will see both finalists don coloured clothing (burgundy, green and white) for the first time, an overall increase in team and individual cash prizes and a new century cash award ($1,000) which will be presented to a local charity.

A $250 Belco electricity credit will be presented to any batsmen scoring a century.

The competition?s eventual champions will pocket $1,500, the runners-up $1,000 and the two losing semi-finalists $500, while man-of-match from each contest will earn $300.

The BCB will be on hand selling merchandise in support of the national cricket programme while national team cricketers will also be present.

BCB Academy director Wendell Smith will coordinate various cricket drills involving youth cricketers during the lunch interval.

?Belco Cup is always an enjoyable weekend of cricket and this year fans can expect to see some great games,? said BCB president Reggie Pearman.

In keeping with tradition, souvenir 2006 Belco Cup tee shirts will be handed out free to fans at the June 11 final.