Chester slipped to defeat in their rearranged Liverpool Echo KO Trophy at Neston.
Chasing 150, the powerful T20 batting line-up of recent times misfired and could muster just 133-7.
The holders bowled well, restricting their hosts with Luke Camden top scoring with 46, the mainstay of the innings. Prithvi Sarvaiya added 34 and David Hurst 33. Warren Goodwin took 2-23.
Chester got off to a poor start losing Ollie Law in the deep off the second ball. Goodwin made 29 but with wickets falling regularly, Chester were always behind the rate. Both Dixons managed 23 but in the end Chester fell 17 short.