LANCASHIRE were at Lords today - but with their C&G Trophy hopes shattered by Shahid Afridi.

The Pakistani staged a one-man demolition of the Red Rose bowling at Grace Road yesterday to send Lancashire to London for today's National League game against Middlesex with their season effectively over.

A superb rearguard action by Warren Hegg and Chris Schofield, followed by two quick wickets for Peter Martin, had dragged Lancashire right back into their C&G semi final against Leicestershire.

Then Shahid, who holds the record for the fastest ever international century, launched Martin for two huge sixes and a four from consecutive balls - and nothing was the same again.

Lancashire captain John Crawley tried all six of his bowlers but they all came the same for Afridi, who ended with six sixes and six fours in 95 from only 58 balls until he was finally caught on the boundary by Andy Flintoff, the pick of Lancashire's attack.

"He came out to have a go at everything, and it turned out to be the right way to play," reflected Crawley ruefully.

He must have been delighted with Lancashire's final total of 190-9 after they had slumped to 38 for five on Sunday.

Hegg and Schofield extended their overnight partnership well into three figures, taking few risks and leaving Leicestershire looking distinctly rattled.

Hegg reached his 50, surprisingly his first in the Trophy competition, and even more amazingly only one of his runs had come on the legside.

They both went in quick succession, Hegg caught at cover off Phil DeFreitas and Schofield hitting a high full toss back to Vince Wells.

But Gary Yates and Martin also collected a few boundaries to boost Lancashire's total up towards 200.

And when Martin had Trevor Ward caught by Schofield at point in his first over, and Darren Stevens snapped up at slip by Mike Atherton in his third, Leicestershire were 10 for two.

But Afridi then blasted Lancashire's hopes to smithereens, supported intelligently by Wells, to send Leicestershire to Lords to face Somerset in the final next month - while Lancashire must try to salvage some respectability in the National League, and avoid relegation in the Championship.