ALEC SWANN has joined a select band of Lancashire batsmen by carrying his bat - but in the process missed out on the chance of a second century for his new county.

Swann's unbeaten 84 against Hampshire made him the first Red Rose opener to bat throughout a completed innings since Gehan Mendis in 1988, and the first at Old Trafford since Jack Ikin in 1949.

But he was left stranded 16 runs short of repeating the maiden Lancashire century he scored in the Roses Match at Headingley last month as the rest of the batting flopped again.

They were all out for 163, the fourth time in six Championship matches they have failed to claim a single batting bonus point. And Swann was the only one of the top seven to make double figures, with Bolton youngster Sajid Mahmood's 18 the second top score in his first innings for Lancashire.

"We are frustrated to have missed out on batting points after winning the toss," said manager Mike Watkinson.

Captain Warren Hegg said his decision to bat first had been 'probably the easiest of the season' and added: "We've only got ourselves to blame."

But both had high praise for Swann, who has bounced back from a sticky patch in May to show why Lancashire signed him from Northants last winter.

Swann himself is just enjoying the chance to open the batting on a regular basis, which was the main reason he wanted to leave Northampton.

"My role in the side is to bat for as long as I can and let people play around me," he said.

Unfortunately no-one managed that yesterday, but Lancashire's bowlers again hit back superbly with Glen Chapple and James Anderson each taking three wickets to reduce Hampshire to 84 for seven, and Neil Fairbrother claiming two acrobatic slip catches to cheer himself up after another batting failure earlier in the day.

Lancashire were also relieved when the pitch was cleared by liaison officer Raman Subba Row even though 17 wickets fell in 93 overs on the first day, meaning there is no danger of a repeat of the eight-point penalty Hampshire suffered at the Rose Bowl last month.