WIDNES'S highest score of the season - highlighted by a century from Aussie ace Adam Landry - was only enough for a draw in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League's ECB Premier Division.
Their total of 272-3 was probably too much for hosts Nantwich and they made little effort to chase.
James McCoy and Steve Titchard, opening for Widnes, took the score to 47 before McCoy departed - bowled by Browne for 25.
Landry joined Titchard and their century partnership put Widnes in a commanding position.
Driving powerfully, Titchard made 55 before being bowled by Sadler.
Landry went on to dominate with an unbeaten 103, showing his best form of the summer.
He was ably assisted by Tony Hurdley (24) and Bappa Mukherjee (32).
Having left Nantwich 55 overs, Widnes started with a surprisingly defensive field.
However, they made an early breakthrough when Gareth Dyson had Sadler caught behind in the ninth over. Steve Titchard then took a second wicket in the 10th to leave the home side at 25-2.
Maynard and Murphy added 130 for Nantwich's third wicket and Landry rang the bowling changes but to no avail. Eventually, Dyson returned to dismiss Murphy via an excellent catch from Ian Spencer.
Four balls later, he removed Doyle for one but the game was destined for a draw long before the close.
Maynard finished on 82 not out and Dyson was the only Widnes bowler who looked a likely match-winner. He finished with three for 43 from 17 overs. Widnes took 15 points and Nantwich 8.
This Saturday, Widnes visit Hyde who share fourth place with the Beaconsfield Road side.
Oulton Park still lead the way, despite having been bowled out for 23 last Saturday by Bowdon - the lowest top-flight score in the League's history.
Widnes' James McCoy made 46 in Cheshire's first game of the ECB Under-17s County Championship campaign against Derbyshire and is named in the squad for the four remaining fixtures.
These include home games against Staffordshire at Chester BH on August 3-4 and Lincolnshire at Winsford (August 11-12). The County League's President's Trophy quarter-final against Liverpool Competition at Southport on Sunday was called off after most players, officials and even umpires had travelled.
A decision about a replay has yet to be made - McCoy and Widnes team-mate Steve Titchard are in the county league squad.
Widnes, whose 2nd XI are at home to Grappenhall on Saturday, are celebrating their first Premiership title success by an U13s side since 1992 after a 16-run victory over St Helens Recs in the Pacific Brands UK Merseyside Youth Cricket League.
In their last outing of the season, Widnes made 107-4 thanks to Ben Williams (24), skipper Billy Webb (53no) and brother Jack Webb (14no).
Recs hit 41 off the first five overs in reply but spinners Jack Webb and Jamahl Khojani came on to remove the openers. Gareth Yandell took 3-12 in a fine four-over spell to limit the St Helens side to 91-7.
