WARRINGTON’S batsmen fell short of chasing down their target in a 40-run defeat to Upton on Saturday.

Skipper Richard Heaney won the toss and invited Upton to have first use of the Walton Lea wicket, but the visitors got off to a solid start.

Opening bowlers Ashley Scholes and Rob Batey went wicketless for Warrington as Upton looked like compiling a big score, only for Heaney’s bowling changes to rein them in.

Spinner Brad McIntosh led the way with figures of 4-54, while Johan Els and James Rudd took two wickets each as Upton finished on 204-8 from their 50 overs.

In response, Warrington’s top order collapsed and they were reduced to 69-5 to put their chances of victory in serious jeopardy.

Will Fleetwood’s knock of 69 allowed them to rebuild with vital support from Els, 27, and Heaney, 23, but they were eventually dismissed for 164.

The result leaves them 10th in the Cheshire County League Division One, one place above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, the club’s seconds were victorious again as they beat their Cheadle counterparts by 48 runs.

Batting first, Tom Higham top-scored with 76 for Warrington as they closed on 182-5, with Rob Dempster hitting an unbeaten 26 and Simon Swain adding support with 24.

However, it was the bowlers that impressed in defending a small total as they dismissed their hosts for 134 in response, with Chia Gadepalli leading the way with 5-26.

The thirds fell to a heavy, 110-run defeat to Barnton’s seconds as their bowlers conceded 24 extra runs.

Mike Fagan-Hall claimed 3-40 for the visitors, but Barnton were able to rack up 211-6 before dismissing Warrington for just 101.

It was a similar story for the fourths, who fell to a 72-run loss to Europa Exiles’ firsts.

Europa posted 155-6 from their allotted overs, with Alan Hitchmough taking 3-30 for Warrington.

However, the Warrington batting line-up collapsed to be bowled out for a meagre 83.

The firsts and thirds both host their Oxton counterparts on Saturday, while the seconds face the same opponents away from home.

The fourths welcome Pott Shrigley’s seconds to Walton Lea at the same time.