Date-stamped : 13 May97 - 06:16 Lancashire smoked out by Moody By Stephen Thorpe at Old Trafford Lancashire (274-6) bt Worcestershire (274-8) by losing fewer wickets LANCASHIRE bowed out of the Benson and Hedges Cup, a trophy they were coming to regard as private property, despite another pulsating last-ball finale in which they snatched victory over Worcestershire by virtue of losing fewer wickets. Phil Newport, needing one off Wasim Akram`s last ball, succeeded only in lofting a catch to mid-on, but the points are academic because Warwickshire`s superior run rate will not be affected should they beat Derbyshire today. Lancashire failed to progress from the zonal stage for the first time since 1988 after enduring a withering assault from Tom Moody, the gold award winner, who struck 92 in a 131-run partnership with Graeme Hick (40). The Western Australian has a distinct taste for Lancashire fare, as 567 runs in his last seven innings testify, and the relief was audible when he holed out at long-on, followed immediately by Hick, angling Peter Martin high to wicketkeeper Warren Hegg. Michael Atherton held a stunning catch at point at the second attempt to remove Gavin Haynes (39) before Reuben Spiring (32 not out) continued the momentum. Lancashire required a mountain of runs and a Minor Counties miracle over Yorkshire to reach the quarter-finals, a most unlikely scenario given the difficulty in shot-making at the outset. Their stuttering start to the campaign is mirrored in the form of their current Test pair, Atherton and John Crawley, and when the England captain went to a miscued pull, his run aggregate read 95 from seven knocks, a sequence which may disturb some observers prior to the Texaco Trophy, but probably not the man himself nor the watching England coach, David Lloyd. Crawley, too, has had a torrid time, but wayward Worcestershire bowling and a cold, blustery morning that did nothing for fielders` concentration, helped his cause immeasurably. Jason Gallian, meanwhile, made a racy 45-ball half- century before falling lbw, possibly harshly, to Hick, then Crawley (37) inexplicably levered a full toss to midwicket. The sight of Neil Fairbrother and Graham Lloyd in harness, however, inflates ambition and the stage seemed set when Lloyd launched Hick over long-on. Indeed, he may already have earned an England one-day recall before Alamgir Sheriyar bowled him, then Fairbrother thrashed two late sixes to embellish an important anchor role of 75 not out. Lancashire should not be too distressed. Come the championship reckoning in September, a few less dramatic one- day finishes may well have been a blessing in disguise. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)