GLEN CHAPPLE made a timely point to Essex as Lancashire escaped a pitch penalty at Old Trafford.

Tony Brown, the former Gloucestershire captain who is now an official pitch liaison officer, was summoned by the umpires after Essex complaints about playing on the wicket used for the one-day international last week.

But Brown cleared Lancashire of doctoring the pitch for spin to help Muttiah Muralitharan -- then Chapple's pace put the skids under Essex's second innings.

Essex openers Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton had frustrated Lancashire after six wickets from Muralitharan had forced them to follow on 205 runs behind.

But then John Crawley turned to Chapple from the Stretford End - and the in-form paceman responded with a spell of three wickets for two runs in 17 balls, to leave the visitors on 89 for three.

There was more controversy in his first wicket as Grayson, the former Yorkshire left arm spinner, stood stunned in his crease for a while after being given out caught behind trying to hook.

In his next over Chapple had Chilton slashing to Andy Flintoff at second slip, then he tempted Darren Robinson into hooking to Peter Martin at long leg.

It was a timely effort for Chapple, too, who after storming to the top of the national bowling averages had hardly been used in the second innings of Lancashire's last win against Leicestershire, or the first innings against Essex.

That was mainly because of Murali rediscovering some of the devastating form he showed in his previous season with Lancashire in 1999.

His amazing first innings figures of 48-22-53-6 gave him 12 for 127 in his last two Championship innings, and a remarkable Old Trafford record of 26 wickets for 334 runs in only five innings - 19 of them against luckless Essex.

Lancashire historians were also scrambling to see whether he will be the fastest man ever to take 100 first class wickets for the club - especially when he picked up his 91st, in only his 11th appearance, by having Ronnie Irani caught at silly point in Essex's second innings.

But Muralitharan met his match in Stuart Law, Essex's brilliant Australian, who was left high and dry on 116 out of their 226 all out in the first innings, and was the main obstacle between Lancashire and a third consecutive Championship win today. Law resumed on 60, with Essex 160 for four -- still needing 45 to avoid an innings defeat.

Leicestershire upped the run rate dramatically on the second day of their match against Kent at Canterbury -- and then ripped into the home side with the ball.

The visitors turned 296 for four overnight into 612 for eight declared, captain Vince Wells and vice captain Ben Smith both scoring centuries.

Then Devon Malcolm and Phil DeFreitas shared five wickets, Malcolm taking three, as the home side were reduced to 155 for seven in reply by the end of the second day.

Mal Loye was left poised to complete a double century as Northamptonshire set about building up an impressive first innings lead against Somerset at Northampton.

Replying to Somerset's 299, Northamptonshire were 358 for five at the close, Loye unbeaten on 194.

Steve Stubbings led Derbyshire's fightback with 83 not out against Gloucestershire in a Second Division encounter at Derby.

Centuries from Mark Alleyne and Jeremy Snape had helped Gloucestershire total 560 for eight declared.

The home side lost opener Luke Sutton (13) before Stubbings and Chris Bassano (40no) steered them to 142 without further loss.

Hampshire suffered a dramatic collapse which put them in danger of losing to visitors Durham at West End.

The home side, who trailed Durham's 266 by 20 going into their second innings, were 134 for seven by the close.

Giles White's 44 and an unbeaten 31 from Zimbabwe's Neil Johnson were the mainstay of Hampshire's poor display.

John Morris and Greg Smith held the key for Nottinghamshire as they attempted to match Sussex's first innings 354 at Trent Bridge.

Morris was unbeaten on 58 and Smith had scored 34 not out from the home side's 268 for the loss of eight wickets.

Middlesex's chances of building on their slender first innings lead at Edgbaston suffered a double blow when they lost openers Andrew Strauss and Mike Roseberry.

Roseberry retired hurt without scoring and when Strauss went for 44 things started to look bleak.

But Middlesex, having seen the home side score 251 in reply to their 273, reached the close with the total on 81 for one thanks to an unbeaten 32 from Robin Weston.