This felt very much the proverbial game of two halves as Chester fell to their third league defeat of the season and effectively ended their title hopes.

Nantwich put Chester into bat on a damp pitch and the visitors struggled immediately against the seam movement of Jimmy Warrington. Warrington enjoys playing against Chester and together with Louis Cameron, set about dismantling Chester's top order.

When the rain came, Chester had struggled to 62-5 and after a further delay, limped to 141. Warren Goodwin dug deep to make 53 and Jack Williams, 37. Cameron took 4-72, Warrington 3-23.

The last two Chester wickets put on 21 to make a reasonable total that in the damp conditions, at least gave Chester something to bowl at.

With the Dabbers low on confidence, they needed to get off to a good start but Ash Davis struck early to dismiss Cameron for 7. When Williams removed Ryan Brown for 26 with the score on 50, Chester had their tails up.

But with improving conditions, skipper Ray Doyle (50) and Chris Simpson (53) led the charge to add 95 to see Nantwich over the line and ease the tension around Whitehouse Lane.

True to say that Nantwich did have the better of the batting conditions but they had to overcome some recent poor performances to make the below par total.

Although mathematically not out of the title race, a challenge is now unlikely although Chester do host the leaders, Alderley Edge next weekend.