BEN Waldron marked his first team debut for Chipping Sodbury with a superb return of 6-28 from seven overs as Chipping Sodbury overcame Knowle by 67 runs to reach the first round of the Gloucestershire Cup.

The right-arm seamer claimed the first six wickets to fall, devastating the Knowle top order as Mason Poole (0-14 from five), spinner Dan Clarke (2-18) and Rob Mozelewski (1-7) kept the heat on to help Sodbury to a rare win over the Bristol powerhouse.

Tight bowling was backed up by some fine work in the field and spectacular catching as Knowle folded to just 75 all out in a match restricted to 35 overs per side because of the wet weekend weather.

Sodbury, who had earlier lost the toss, also had to battle for runs with several players – opener Lee Walters (21), Nic Anderson (18), Clarke (17) and Craig Scully (15) – establishing themselves at the wicket before falling.

But Poole, coming in at number nine, gave the innings a real boost with some direct, clean hitting, blasting four fours and two sixes as he moved to a valuable 40 off only 28 deliveries.

His knock helped Sodbury eventually total 142 – a great recovery from 88-7 – and that momentum was maintained straight after the tea break as Waldron instantly put the pressure on Knowle.

Sodbury’s reward is a home tie against Corse and Staunton, who earlier this month comfortably defeated Bristol YMCA.

Attention now turns to a return to league action after a weekend washout.

Sodbury’s first team area way on Saturday to Gloucester City Winget in the WEPL’s Glos & Wilts Division, while the seconds play host to Hatherley and Reddings.

Sodbury thirds entertain Almondsbury seconds in their latest Bristol & District Division Four outing while Sodbury fourths are away to their Winterbourne counterparts in Division Ten and the fifths visit Stoke Gifford seconds in Division 11.