NANTWICH’S four-match unbeaten league run was brought to an end at Neston on Saturday.

In sweltering conditions, Ray Doyle’s side succumbed to a 35-run defeat as they failed to chase down their victory target.

Doyle won the toss and invited the hosts to have first use of the wicket, but an opening partnership of 60 made that decision look a costly one.

Breakthroughs did eventually come, but Neston were able to regularly rebuild and they sat well-placed on 160-3.

However, Nantwich’s bowlers did enjoy a spell of success by taking four wickets for 57 runs.

Oliver Freckingham, Oliver Griffiths and Scott Wardley finished with two scalps each as Neston closed their innings on 246-7, with James Warrington taking the other wicket to fall.

Nantwich’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Henry Dobson and Chris Simpson fell early to leave them reeling at 9-2.

That soon became 28-3 when Ryan Brown departed, which brought Niall O’Brien and Luke Robinson together.

Their 112-run partnership restored order to the Dabbers’ batting before Robinson fell for 71.

O’Brien top-scored with 79, but Nantwich’s chances of victory were effectively ended with the Ireland international’s dismissal.

Doyle, who made 16, was the only other visiting batsman to reach double figures as they were dismissed for 211.

Nantwich sit seventh in the Cheshire County League Premier Division table having won three and lost three of their nine games, with two draws and one abandonment.

Saturday sees them return to Whitehouse Lane to take on Grappenhall, the side directly below them in the league standings.

The seconds drew with their Neston counterparts having been dismissed for 207 batting first.

All but two of Nantwich’s batsmen reached double figures but none passed 50, with Alex Paterson top-scoring with 35.

Ben Mogg then led the way with the ball by taking 3-65, with Scott Edwards and Ben Johnston claiming two wickets each, but Neston held on to close on 200-8.