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Fairbrother and Crawley steady Lancashire ship

Lancs (181-4) bt Gloucs (178-8) by 6 wickets

A one-day trophy is seen as part of the birthright at Old Trafford and Lancashire remain in the frame for landing the inaugural CGU National League title after a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire last night.

They will also take heart from the news that Muttiah Muralitharan leaves for Sri Lanka next Wednesday and is available for the two crucial upcoming day/night matches against Yorkshire.

The off-spinner's best limited overs return for his adopted county was later overshadowed by John Crawley, who celebrated his reappointment as captain with a controlled 80.

Lancashire, chasing a target of 179, had an uninspiring start, losing Michael Atherton lbw to Mike Smith's first ball, and then having Andy Flintoff caught by Jeremy Snape at backward point off Ian Harvey.

Neil Fairbrother underlined his status as the best one-day technician in the country over the last decade after an undefeated 66 in a match-winning partnership of 113 with Crawley.

The left-hander has also issued his own broadside to the ECB and First Class Forum, denigrating the re-emergence of the Benson and Hedges tournament and calling for the projected 25-over pilot scheme next year to be ditched immediately. It is wishful thinking to expect the authorities to heed the voice of experience.

Gloucestershire were inserted on a slowish pitch adjacent to the much-maligned Test strip, and seemed largely untroubled despite Ian Austin's restrictive opening spell. But the outlook changed after the introduction of Muralitharan, whose magic fingers were soon at work, bowling Tim Hancock for 32 and trapping the captain, Mark Alleyne, lbw.

Mark Chilton struck with his first ball, a gentle outdrifter which Rob Cunliffe steered obligingly to Fairbrother at point. Then Muralitharan slipped Kim Barnett's anchor and finished with three for 12.

Harvey's 37 apart, the innings thereafter was more procession than pageant and far from the requisite preparation for Sunday's NatWest semi-final against Yorkshire. The Gladiators must sharpen their blades before then.