Maddy's cameo is brief respite

Leicestershire 219 Lancashire 126-3

Six consecutive defeats in all cricket have left Lancashire with Championship relegation worries as well as damage to their reputation as a one-day force. Leicestershire still see themselves as title challengers yet it was their opponents who had the better of things here yesterday.

Perhaps Leicestershire's second place in the County Championship table is a false one, given that their last six completed matches have seen them beaten too. They have their work cut out if this one is not to go the same way, although bad weather could be a useful ally.

It has already caused the entire first day to be washed out. The toss was won by Lancashire on Wednesday afternoon, when play seemed imminent, but it was more than 22 hours before Warren Hegg could test the wisdom of his decision to bowl.

There was immediate encouragement when Trevor Ward edged Peter Martin's third ball to third slip in the opening over. But it was only after a promising stand between Iain Sutcliffe and Darren Maddy had been broken that Lancashire took a firm grip.

Sutcliffe was bowled off an inside edge by an inswinger from Ryan Driver, ending a partnership worth 76. When Michael Bevan, having made only one scoring stroke, was leg before to James Anderson as Hegg, without a spinner, rotated his seamers to good effect, Lancashire were already on top.

With plenty in the pitch and cloud cover helping the ball swing, Lancashire enjoyed an even better afternoon, with Leicestershire, 118 for 3 at lunch, dismissed for 219 by tea.

Only Maddy, who hit nine fours, threatened an innings of significant longevity but disappointingly sliced Martin to second slip on 59. Rewarded with three wickets each, Martin and Anderson set a standard of disciplined seam bowling Leicestershire's Matt Whiley, sporting a mohican, would do well to mimic. The left-armer might be well advised not to draw attention to himself after conceding 53 in six overs, with seven no-balls and three wides.

Given a sound start by Alec Swann and Mark Chilton as Devon Malcolm and Phil DeFreitas failed to achieve a breakthrough, Lancashire made good progress with the bat before Maddy and Vince Wells clawed back some ground.

* A double century from Mark Ramprakash helped steer the County Championship leaders Surrey, to a commanding first-innings lead over Somerset. He hit 218 as the visitors declared on 608 for 6 at Taunton.