LANCASHIRE were battling to save the Roses Match at Headingley today despite a true captain's innings from John Crawley.

Crawley followed his 73 in the first innings with a determined 113, sinking to his knees in some combination of exhaustion and emotion when he reached his first century of the season from 141 balls.

But Yorkshire's England all-rounder Craig White then had him caught behind and Glen Chapple caught at slip in the same over, and although Peter Martin and John Wood linked up in a defiant ninth wicket stand of 47, Lancashire resumed today on 280-8 -- only 122 runs ahead.

That was mainly down to Yorkshire's two Darrens, Lehmann and Gough, who were the key figures as the Tykes piled up 531 for a first innings lead of 158.

Lehmann made a magnificent 252, the top score in Roses history and the sixth highest ever at Headingley, hitting 35 fours and a six until he was bowled by Chapple.

But even that was not the end of Lancashire's suffering as Gough blazed his way to a 34-ball half century and went on to 96 with 14 fours and a pulled six off John Wood.

Chapple was easily the pick of Lancashire's bowlers, ending with 5-83, his fifth five-wicket haul of the season.

But they felt the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan more keenly than ever, with Gary Keedy and Chris Schofield failing to take a wicket in 50 overs of spin -- while Lehmann, Yorkshire's overseas player, was scoring almost half of his team's runs.

Lancashire then made a disastrous start to their reply with Mike Atherton going cheaply for the second time in the match to Yorkshire's young Bury-born paceman Steve Kirby, and Mark Chilton trapped lbw by Gough.

That was three for two, and although Andy Flintoff resisted for a while, with Joe Scuderi and Warren Hegg going cheaply Lancashire lost five wickets before they even wiped off the deficit.

As long as Crawley survived, they were clinging on to an outside chance, with memories of the captain's magnificent match-winning 180 at Headingley three years ago.

But this time, barring a spectacular upset today, his heroics will have been in vain.

Meanwhile Lancashire will make an approach for Paul Hutchison, the England A left arm paceman who has been released by Yorkshire, although they are facing competition from Warwickshire. By ANDY WILSON