Praise for Shropshire's record eighth wicket

The duo shared in a mammoth 177-run eighth wicket stand – a county record – as Shropshire posted 358-9 at Whitchurch.

It gave them a first-innings lead of 260 in their Minor Counties Championship opener.

Seamer Ben Sanderson then took five wickets to go with the six he claimed first time around as Cheshire were skittled for just 100 second time around, giving the Cats victory by an innings and 150 runs.

Ralph reserved most praise for Aucott and Weston for setting up the win.

The pair came together with Shropshire on 140-7 with 20-year-old Bridgnorth batsman Weston going on to hit 105, his maiden county century, while Aucott, 19, was run out for 91.

The previous best Shropshire stand for the eighth wicket was 129 by Matt Turner and Adam Shimmons against Oxfordshire at St Georges in 1998.

And Ralph revealed how Weston had been set to miss out on selection until an 11th hour change of heart.

Ralph said: "For the whole week, we were planning to play a second spinner with Charlie Morris and Tom was going to be 12th man.

"It was only when we saw the pitch on Sunday we decided to go with the extra batsman. It just goes to show what can happen. Ben Sanderson bowled superbly, as did all of the bowling attack.

"But it is Tom and Ross who set things up for us. At 87-6, scoring 350 seemed something of a pipe dream but they showed what could be achieved on that pitch."

Ralph admitted the services of Sanderson, who finished with match figures of 11-58, could be in short supply if the paceman continues his current form.

Sanderson is signed to Northamptonshire, playing for the county's second team during the week, with Ralph saying: "He is a first-class bowler playing Minor Counties cricket right now."