NEIL FAIRBROTHER was Lancashire's hero for the second day running in Colchester - but this time for his bowling!

The 37-year-old had only previously taken six first class wickets in 20 seasons in the game - a rate of around one every three years.

So it was quite a shock when John Crawley handed him the ball in the 28th over of Essex's reply to Lancashire's total of 423.

But with the first ball of his second over of wobbly left arm medium pace off a short run, Fairbrother trapped his former team-mate Ronnie Irani lbw.

The whole Lancashire team went berserk, with Crawley leading the celebrations after his captaincy, which has come in for so much criticism recently, had paid off.

In stark contrast Irani stood stunned at the crease, clearly unimpressed by the decision of umpire John Holder.

Despite his embarrassment, Ronnie was in good company, as a jubilant Fairbrother told him afterwards. Four of Fairbrother's previous six victims were Test players - Clive Rice, Sir Richard Hadlee, John Morris and Tim Curtis - and the other two were county captains John Barclay and, last year at Headingley, David Byas.

And with Glen Chapple and Joe Scuderi both bowling impressively, Lancashire reduced Essex to 123 for five.

Chapple bowled an 18-over opening spell either side of a long rain break, bowling Paul Grayson and having Stephen Peters caught behind to move within two wickets of 50 for the season.

Scuderi had made the first breakthrough with his first ball, having Darren Robinson lbw, and then claimed the crucial scalp of Stuart Law caught behind as he continued to find outswing in the heavy conditions.

Earlier Chris Schofield had made a new career best of 80 not out as Lancashire claimed maximum batting points, with their relegation fears fading all the time.