THE final warm-up game ahead of the new season provided a win for Chipping Sodbury on Saturday with Royal Wootton Bassett Town. 

With the West of England Premier League starting this weekend, Sodbury concluded their pre-season programme with a clash against Bassett.

Having won the toss, the visitors chose to bat and Sodbury went to work with the ball.

Josh Smith and Jack Twine came to the crease and made a steady start, working up to 32 runs before Smith (8) was caught by Sourish Mukherjee off the bowling of Ollie Louch.

Mohamed Cook came in and batted well but was trapped LBW by Jiwanjot Singh for 33 from 48 deliveries, shortly before Twine was run-out for 32.

At 103-3, the scoreboard wasn't looking too bad for the away side but they collapsed from there. 

Seven wickets fell for just 36 runs as Bassett fell victim to the bowling of Louch and Singh, who took all but one of the final seven wickets as the away side were bowled out for 139. 

A small total was required but three Sodbury wickets fell rather quickly in the reply to give the visitors something to work with. 

Mohan Balusu did the majority of the damage with 3-31 but a half-century from Jiwanjot Singh (51) and 45 off 44 balls from Damien Bouwer ensured the hosts reached their total with three wickets to spare. 

It means Sodbury go into the new season on the back of a victory, with a home game against Tewkesbury on Saturday their first challenge of the 2023 WEPL Gloucestershire season. 

They will be hoping to get off to the perfect start before they go to Voneus Village Cup champions Dumbleton the weekend after. 

Elsewhere in the league this weekend, Cirencester host Dumbleton, Frocester welcome Cheltenham Civil Service and Charlton Kings make the trip to Gloucester. 

Stroud welcome Bourton Vale in the only other fixture of the weekend.