Blackwell leads the opening onslaught

Leicestershire appeared to be suffering the effects of their two-day semi-final exploits in the C&G Trophy as they were put to the sword by the Somerset batsmen in the First Division of the Norwich Union League at Taunton.

Ironically, the two teams will contest the C&G final, in which Leicestershire will be hoping for a much better start than the one they had on losing the toss yesterday.

Peter Bowler and Ian Blackwell dominated the Leicestershire attack in an opening onslaught which yielded 143 runs from the first 22 overs. Blackwell, the former Derbyshire player, was the aggressor with 73 not out off 56 balls, cracking a six and 12 fours in an hour and 20 minutes.

Bowler played more of an anchor role but still hit 11 boundaries as Somerset reached halfway, having set the platform for a commanding total.

The Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, so effective with the bat on Monday, suffered a reversal of roles as his three overs of off-spin went for 21 runs.

Blackwell was dismissed for 86, caught behind by Neil Burns off Jimmy Ormond, but the Tasmanian Jamie Cox joined Bowler, who had progressed to 71, as Somerset looked to amass a score in excess of 300.

In the Second Division, Lancashire's dismal form continued in the basement meeting against Middlesex as they were reduced to 93 for 5 in 22 overs. Angus Fraser won the toss and put the visitors in and he immediately took advantage of the conditions to leave Lancashire reeling on 9 for 2 with Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple both back in the Lord's pavilion.

Andy Flintoff and John Crawley staged the sort of fightback which has been lacking in recent weeks. But just when it appeared they had turned things around, the innings suffered another collapse, with three wickets falling for 13 runs.

Flintoff produced a typically savage knock of 45 from 35 deliveries, hitting a six and seven fours, before offering a catch to Owais Shah off the South African Chad Keegan's bowling. Flintoff had put on 63 with Crawley but Neil Fairbrother could provide no such support and lasted six balls.

The writing was on the wall for Lancashire when Crawley also fell to Keegan for 25, leaving Graham Lloyd and Joe Scuderi to salvage something from the remaining 21 overs.

The Glamorgan coach Jeff Hammond admits his side still have a tough task ahead of them if they are to avoid relegation from the First Division of the County Championship.

The Welshmen boosted their survival hopes with a three-wicket win over champions Surrey at The Oval last weekend but they still remain in the bottom three with four games to go.

The 1997 champions are 11.5 points behind Surrey but with struggling basement side Essex the next to visit Sophia Gardens today, they have the chance to put more pressure on Adam Hollioake's men and Lancashire above them.

"We've got Essex, Yorkshire, Leicestershire and Surrey to come and that's a hard road home," Hammond said. "But if we can play well and don't drop a game we will have a good chance of avoiding relegation."