Berkshire's opening Unicorns Trophy game against Dorset proved a particularly painful experience for skipper James Morris.

His side slumped to a seven-wicket defeat after he had been dismissed first ball and just before the end of Sunday's game he suffered a painful blow when stopping the ball in the field.

He dislocated a thumb and may also have fractured the scaphoid. He will need to return to hospital for a further X-ray.

"I had injured my thumb during the winter, so it was a bit of a weak one," he said.

“I don't know how long I am going to be out of action for."

Electing to bat first on a chilly day at Falkland CC, Berkshire were dismissed for 235 in the 49th over with Slough opener Waqas Hussain making 90 off 105 balls (10x4s) and Henley newcomer Euan Woods 42 off 73 balls.

Coming together at 95-5 in the 22nd over, they lifted the total to 178 before Hussain was caught behind off the first ball of the 39th over.

Earlier, Richard Morris (12) and brother James had been dismissed off successive deliveries in the 16th over with the total on 63.

A good opening spell by the Berkshire attack saw Dorset restricted to 86-2 off 25 overs and the side coached by former Berkshire batsman Paul Prichard lost their third wicket at 113 in the 30th over.

However, Lewis McManus and Luke Webb swung the game in the visitors' favour with some aggressive batting and the, eventually saw their side home with nine balls to spare.

McManus finished unbeaten on 109 off 148 balls (3x6s, 8x4s) and Webb 57 off 63 (1x6, 6x4s).

Scores in brief

Berkshire: Roberts 0, Hussain 90, Andersson 12, R Morris 12, J Morris 0, Rishton 19, Woods 42, Peploe 18, Davison 5, Nugent 8, Raja 1no, Extras 28. Total: 235 (48.2 overs). Bowling: Hayman 10-1-42-2, Wolstenholme 8-0-44-3, Waller 1-0-1-0, Thompson 10-2-28-3, Lilley 9-0-60-1, Scott 3-0-23-0, Khan 6.2-0-34-1.

Dorset: Khan 4, McManus 108no, Scott 15, Porter 23, Webb 57no, Extras 28. Total 236-3 (48.3 overs). Bowling: Nugent 7.3-1-30-0, Andersson 6-0-31-1, Hussain 7-0-32-1, Raja 10-0-39-1, Woods 8-0-53-0, Peploe 10-0-41-0.

Berkshire's next Trophy game is against Cornwall at Truro next Sunday. Cornwall defeated Devon by 47 runs in their opening game last weekend with Henley batsman and Reading teacher Matt Rowe their highest scorer on 61.

Richard Morris skippers the side in the absence of his brother, with Brandon Gilmour (Downend) coming into the team.

There is also a second change with Finchampstead all-rounder Matt Carter taking over from the unavailable Andersson.

Squad: Roberts, Hussain, R Morris, Gilmour, Rishton, Woods, Peploe, Davison, Carter, Nugent, Raja, Gregory.