WARRINGTON could not prevent pacesetters Middlewich recording a third successive victory in Division Two on Saturday.

They tumbled to 127 all out after being asked to bat, only a lower-order stand worth 48 runs between Drew Martel, 31, and Rob Batey, 22, offering resistance to spinner Vishnu Bhardwa, four for 37.

Middlewich, led by Australian import Darryn Busch, 46 not out, scored 128 for five after tea when Batey, three for 39, salvaged some pride for the men from Walton Lea who have lost two of their first three.

They travel to fellow strugglers Congleton this weekend.

In the return match at Haddon Field, Warrington’s seconds exacted revent in a 74-runs success.

Veteran Stuart Houghton, 80 not out, and Charlie McElroy, 72 not out, took the visitors to 194 for three after early wickets had fallen.

Middlewich’s reply collapsed early on as only Nigel Wakefield, 41, and Tom Shepherd, 25, managed to make starts in an innings that closed on 120.

Jeremy Lewis took the final wicket as thunder and lightening arrived but Nick Houghton, four for 34, was the pick of the bowling for the visitors.

Warrington’s thirds played out a draw with their Irby counterparts.

Wes Charlton, four for 42, struck early in Irby’s innings, which closed on 161 for eight off 55 overs.

Left with only 45 overs to win the contest, Tim Rothwell’s half-century held together a Warrington reply that reached 142 for eight.

A contest between the two club’s fourth teams ended the same way.

Joseph Sequira, 48, and Mans Naseem, 48, top-scored in Warrington’s 196 for four.

Irby chose not to chase in reply.