CAUTION got the better of Widnes as they drew a match they dominated against Hyde on Saturday.

Conscious of being overtaken in the final over at Oxton last time out in the ECB Premier Division, the Beaconsfield Road outfit overcompensated by prolonging their innings until the 59th over.

This was ultimately to haunt them as the home side would surely have bowled out Hyde had they more time.

The Tamesiders instead held on at 129-8 in reply to Widnes' 196-9 dec.

Widnes had chosen to bat first, but their early progress was checked by good-length bowling - James McCoy and Tony Hurd-ley finding runs initially at a premium on a slow wicket and damp outfield.

Only 20 runs had come off the first 10 overs before Hurdley was bowled, sweeping against the off-spin of Berry.

Skipper Adam Landry joined McCoy and they took the score on to 42 but, having made 22, Mc-Coy was caught at mid-on after driving uppishly.

Steve Titchard was the second partner for Landry and, despite batting solidly, they were in turn pinned down by the accuracy of the visiting attack.

Landry had made 19 when he attempted a big hit, only to become Berry's third victim.

Titchard (42), Phil Catterall (12) and Steve Walton (16) kept the score ticking over, but the impetus only came when Gareth Dyson (19) joined Bappa Mukherjee (36).

The declaration finally came with Mukherjee's dismissal, but the delay was to cost Widnes.

After Murphy had been dropped by Mukherjee in Danny Moore's first over, the bowler had better luck in his second when Fitzsimons was superbly caught behind by Ian Spencer.

Dyson struck three times in consecutive overs, with Murphy and Knight trapped in front and Singh caught at slip by Landry.

When Brierley was bowled by Ibra Ali, who had replaced Moore, Hyde were in trouble at 53-5.

However, 17 overs passed before another wicket fell and by then, the away side had advanced by 47 runs.

Duffy and Makin frustrated Widnes before the latter was snared lbw by Mukherjee for 26. Survival was the only target for Hyde and, despite Mukherjee taking his second wicket and Titchard his first of the day, Duffy was still unbeaten on 46 as time ran out.

Widnes go to Alderley Edge in the league on Saturday before hosting Elworth in the Cheshire Cup on Sunday (1pm).

Saturday sees the 2nds host Cheadle Hulme.