WIDNES are looking for redemption after a shock quarter-final exit from the Cheshire Cup in a weekend which also saw them beaten in the Murray Smith Cheshire County League's ECB Premiership.

On Sunday they're in the league's JW Lees Fred Graham Trophy Twenty20 finals in Warrington.

Their semi-final against Bram-hall starts at midday.

Victory would see Widnes play Nantwich or Neston in the final (3.45pm). Double disappointment for Widnes saw a 26-run league reversal at Christleton on Saturday followed by a five-wicket Cheshire Cup defeat by County League Division One strugglers Winnington Park.

Christleton, put in to bat, made steady early progress.

Gareth Dyson took a wicket on 37 but the total had reached 82 when Bappa Mukherjee dismissed Ratcliffe for 37.

Maroof Khan dominated for Christleton but was run out for 42 with the score on 161.

The remaining batsmen succumbed to Mahboob (5-64 off 20 overs) and Mukherjee (3-55 from 17) and the Chester outfit were all out for 180.

In reply, Widnes lost Steve Titchard for nought.

James McCoy's quickfire 21 and a patient 37 from Tony Hurdley kept them on course, but wickets fell regularly. Captain Ian Spencer's swashbuckling 53 was his season's best innings but his exit ended Widnes's hopes.

Put in on Sunday, Widnes batsmen failed to come to terms with Winnington's three spinners.

Bad shot selection led to eight being caught, with only Steve Titchard (23) and Ian Spencer (27) contributing much to 148ao.

An 89-run partnership by Leach (67) and Sinclair (48) saw the visitors through off the first ball of the last over.

Champions Bowdon visit Widnes in the League on Saturday (1pm).

RUNCORN crashed by five wickets at home to Prestbury, despite the all-round efforts of Steve Ollerenshaw.

He hit 48no from 22 balls as Runcorn acored 64 from the last nine overs to reach 186-8 before claiming 4-52 in 14.5 overs.

Dave Moore (26) and Andy Booth (23) put on 50 after Runcorn had been put in.

Both were dismissed in the 13th over but Jack Weston (29), Mark Cahill (24) and Jason Whitfield (12) pushed the score on to 86 in the 26th over.

But it was Ollerenshaw who provided the fireworks with five fours and three sixes.

Pick of the Prestbury bowlers were K Murray (2-33), S Lloyd-Griffiths (2-45) and L Presley (3-43).

Prestbury openers M Constable (67) and M Mason (45) put on 96 in 15 overs.

Presley (23) and skipper L Hope (35no) helped the visitors to reach their target in the 41st over despite Aidan Warder's 1-27 from ten. Prestbury took 24 points to Runcorn's seven.

Runcorn U15s (108-8 from 25 overs) beat Castrol (53ao) by 55 runs thanks largely to Liam Broley (31no), Josh Bury (25). Lewis Fenlon (4-9), Tom Wright (2-12) and Matthew King (2-1).

MOORFIELD lost their top-of-the-table battle at Sutton by eight runs - 23pts-7 - in the Merseyside & Southport Alliance's Division Two.

However, the Widnesians trail their St Helens-based promotion rivals by just one point.

Dan Naughton opted to field but Moorfield struggled without holidaying wicket machine Ste Dean, Sutton openers Rimmer and Anders hitting 46 and 47 respectively.

Only when Tony Harrison (5-41) and Naughton (3-52) came on did things start to happen. The hosts were 177ao off 48 overs.

In response, Dan Naughton tried to get going but wickets fell regularly.

John Eccleshall scored a brisk 26, youngster Tom Lunt got 20 and Dan Magee an excellent 43 before being brilliantly caught and bowled.

Number 11 Mark Greason chipped in with a good 26 but Moorfield were dismissed for 170.

Next week sees Moorfield, sponsored by Motor Nation and matchball sponsor Halton Scaffolding, travel to Cheshire Lines for a must-win game.