DIVINE inspiration, perhaps, after Warwickshire staged a remarkable recovery and snatched victory by 49 runs with 4.5 overs remaining over nonplussed Lancashire yesterday.

Lancashire were apparently cruising on 108 for one, chasing a target of 235, when Brian Lara, the Warwickshire captain, conjured another unlikely turn-around.

John Crawley (54) had shifted from neutral to overdrive in quick time, hooking Gladstone Small over long leg in his first over. Then, after Mike Watkinson tried a repeat shot, Neil Smith floored a steepler at backward square leg. The spillage unsettled Small, and Lara relieved him when the next over cost 13, including a sumptuous force through midwicket by Watkinson. Ed Giddins, though, who reappeared and struck the top of Watkinson's middle stump with a classic off-cutter, was whipped off, too, for his trouble and - surprise, surprise - replaced by Small, a singularly quixotic decision vindicated at once when Andrew Flintoff was judged lbw and Graham Lloyd was caught carving at third man.

Lancashire never recovered and had lost seven wickets for 65 runs when Wasim Akram, their last real hope with a rapid 31, holed out off Ashley Giles, the man of the match, after three for 22 and 37 runs off 38 balls.

Earlier, Warwickshire's total had seemed insufficient. Nick Knight went for 33, bowled through the gate by Glenn Chapple and David Hemp was left to rally the middle order. Trevor Penney and Dougie Brown, confounded by Akram's fast yorker, offered only flimsy support. Then Hemp perished for 55 when the side needed him most.