Ross Aucott marshals the tail for Shropshire

Berkshire closed the opening day of their Unicorns Championship Western Division clash at Falkland Cricket Club on 75-3, in reply to Shropshire's 330-9.

Aucott starred with the bat, compiling 74 in 88 balls with 10 fours and a six to help James Ralph's men add 102 for their final three wickets.

And Sanderson then claimed 2-29 in nine overs before the close to give his side the edge.

Ralph decided to bat and saw openers Steve Leach and Omar Ali give his side a handy start, with a stand of 105 for the opening wicket.

Leach was the first man out for a breezy 47 from 53 balls but his dismissal in the 16th over sparked a mini-collapse that took Shropshire from 105-0 to 150-4.

Ali was one of the men to fall in that flurry of wickets but he had made 61 from 54 balls including four fours and two sixes.

Ralph went to the crease with his side 171-5 but his useful 50 from 88 balls helped steady the ship, as he shared in a 49-run stand for the sixth wicket with Gurman Randhawa (13).

Wolverhampton's Aucott then marshalled the tail, contributing 40 to a 52-run stand for the eighth wicket with Matt Higginbottom and adding 36 for the final wicket with Sanderson.

Former Middlesex all-rounder Chris Peploe was the star performer with the ball for Berkshire, claiming five wickets.

They included the scalp of Ralph with his left-arm spin, although his 30 overs did cost his side 117 runs.

Sanderson then claimed the wickets of Simon Macey for 31 and Richard Morris for two, while Randhawa removed Waqas Hussain for 11.

Shropshire coach Karl Krikken said: "We set about them at the start with Leach and Ali and then they pegged us back.

"But Ross Aucott played magnificently and played well with the tail to get us to a good total.

"Then we had them 75-3 but it could have been better because we beat the bat a lot. Overall we were pleased with the day."