Smith subdued

Cricket: Lancashire 495 Leicestershire 308-7

With Manchester's sporting attentions largely focused elsewhere, a Leicestershire side lacking obvious pulling power would not be the chosen opponents to tempt spectators to a cold and grey Old Trafford.

And with the visitors also fighting a dogged battle to avoid the follow- on and with nearly two hours lost through rain and bad light, even the faith of the die-hards was tested.

It initially appeared that the main hope for a Leicestershire revival was dented when Ben Smith was rapped on the ankle from a good-length Steve Elworthy delivery.

The wicket illustrated the South African's ability to produce wicket- taking deliveries, but his start to the season has been marred by the more consistent production of boundary balls.

Smith's innings was an uncomplicated effort on a slow track with modest turn disguised by Mike Watkinson's four- wicket haul. With an open stance, the Leicester batsman was fluent square of the wicket and aided by some early Lancashire bowling. Moving from an overnight 33 to his 50 in just 12 deliveries, Smith mirrored the ease with which Lancashire batsmen had occupied the crease on the first two days.

Having been defeated in their first game at Kent, and with Leicestershire having a win at Derbyshire in the bank, Lancashire gave a more accurate demonstration of relative squad strength with their dominance. Facing the day's opening England pair of Peter Martin and Watkinson, Aftab Habib provided early support for Smith. But when Watkinson switched around the wicket, Habib prodded back to the first ball which straightened to trap the batsman leg before.

The promising slow left-armer Gary Keedy, offering a fuller length and more loop than his skipper, was unfortunate to go without success, Paul Nixon surviving a strong appeal for a snick to the wicketkeeper.

Leicestershire's lower order, though, continued to score with regularity, and while the 346 target remained a tall order, the presence of Nixon was a worry for Lancashire. In the 1993 fixture at Grace Road, Leicestershire recovered from a similar position to reach 455 all out, Nixon scoring an unbeaten 113, a position from which Leicestershire won the game.

With David Millns revelling in the batting conditions to blossom into a full range of shots, the eighth-wicket stand eased past the century mark and the making of another Leicestershire great escape was materialising.