Date-stamped : 25 Apr95 - 22:38 Benson and Hedges Round 2: Lancashire v Leicestershire Old Trafford, 25 April 1995 Lloyd steers Lancashire to victory and record - Brian Bearshaw Lancs (318-5) bt Leics (312-5) by 5 wkts LANCASHIRE pulled off an historic win with only three balls remaining when they recorded the highest winning total by a side batting second in the Benson and Hedges Cup. Their performance eclipsed that of Warwickshire, who totalled 291 for five in 1981 to beat Lancashire at Old Trafford. Four Lancashire batsmen contributed heavily to the victory: Mike Atherton with 71, John Crawley 89, Neil Fairbrother 44, and Gra- ham Lloyd 81 not out. The Gold Award went, fittingly, to South African Test captain Hansie Cronje, whose 158 in only his second game for Leicestershire, equalled the fifth highest in the 24 years of the competition. He and James Whitaker, 88, carried Leicestershire to what looked like an unbeatable target with a magnificent third-wicket stand of 175 in 22 overs. Lancashire`s response was led by Atherton and Crawley, who ear- lier had an X-ray on an injured wrist, their second-wicket partnership of 124 in 21 overs providing the ideal platform for the home side to gallop to a famous win. Fairbrother, another Lancashire player in the wars after being hit on the thumb while batting and having to go off for treat- ment, joined with Lloyd in a stand of 61 in nine overs before Fairbrother was caught in the deep. Lancashire went into the final five overs needing 41, a testing goal that was soon made simpler as Lloyd and Ian Austin took 15 runs off one over from Vince Wells. Lloyd clinched Lancashire`s second win in the group by hitting the third ball of the final over for six to complete an unbeaten 81 in 73 balls. This was Leicestershire`s second defeat in the group and makes their chance of reaching the quarter-finals extremely difficult. But if Cronje continues with the form he showed yesterday they might yet qualify. He played beautifully on the easy-paced pitch, effortlessly piercing or clearing the field on this large ground which could turn field placing into a headache. He faced 156 balls and hit 13 fours and four sixes as he batted from the sixth to the 51st over. He got away with a couple of edged shots and was particularly fortunate when Crawley could not reach a skied chance at long-off when he was 106. But they were minor blemishes in an innings which charmed a size- able and appreciative Old Trafford crowd. If he had been English he would no doubt have excited the trio of England selectors who were watching. He went in to bat after Wells had been caught off an inside edge after moving down the pitch to drive Austin. He shared in a partnership of 92 with Nigel Briers who fell to a stunning right-handed catch by Fairbrother. Cronje reached his century out of 168 for two and immediately marked it with a smoothly swung six off Martin. He then played a loose drive, giving a chance to long off where Crawley, running in, finished up diving only to miss the catch and injure his wrist. Leicestershire put on 104 runs in the last 10 overs, leaving Lan- cashire probably cursing loudly at the absence of Wasim Akram, who is not due to arrive in this country until tomorrow. When Lloyd made the winning hit, all that was forgotten. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)