LANCASHIRE'S hopes of progressing in the Twenty20 Cup was given a big boost as they thrashed Leicestershire by eight wickets at Old Trafford.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed the superb figures of 4-19 as the visitors were held to 146-7, despite skipper HD Ackerman's unbeaten 79 off 55 balls.

Stuart Law then clubbed an imperious 92 not out off 54 balls, with four sixes, to get the hosts home in the 17th over.

He put on 98 runs for the second wicket with fellow Aussie Brad Hodge (31).

Both players had to pass fitness tests before the match, but they were clearly in fine fettle and Law achieved victory for Lancashire in fine style with a six off Claude Henderson.

Northamptonshire maintained their 100% record in the Twenty20 Cup with a convincing win over Worcestershire tonight.

South African Johann Louw took three for 25 at New Road as the Steelbacks claimed victory by 37 runs.

David Sales (59) and Usman Afzaal (46) helped Northants to a winning 180 for six with Damien Wright weighing in with a quickfire 20 from eight balls.

Stephen Moore hit 53 in reply but the Royals lost momentum after the opener's dismissal and Northants' disciplined bowling secured their third consecutive win.

Hampshire's acting captain Shaun Udal scrambled a single off the last ball of the match from Andrew Hall to earn his side a five-wicket win over Kent at the Rose Bowl.

Udal was only leading Hampshire in the absence of Shane Warne, who is taking two weeks off before joining Australia for the Ashes series.

Kent had started well after reaching 72 for two, and Michael Carberry went on to make 56, but they fell away in the face of some fine spin bowling from Greg Lamb.

Lamb took four for 28 as the Spitfires were restricted to 154 for nine.