PHIL Defreitas wrecked Lancashire's title bid with the best performance of his career at Grace Road.

The former Lancashire star, who spent six years at Old Trafford, hammered an unbeaten 123 to earn Leicester a comfortable draw. Lancashire had to settle for 12 points when they needed the maximum of 20 to put pressure on leaders Surrey.

"We will keep going," said Red Rose coach Bob Simpson.

But Surrey are still eight points ahead with a game in hand and only a dramatic loss of form can stop the champs retaining the title, although they have a tough game next week against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

"All we can do is hope that results go our way and we win our last two matches," said captain John Crawley.

But there is now every chance of Lancashire finishing runners-up for the third time on the trot.

It was almost inevitable that Defreitas would prove the stumbling block at Grace Road. All through the match he was a thorn in Lancashire's side, hitting 97 and 123 not out as well as bowling 47 overs.

Lancashire had a glimmer of hope when spinners Gary Keedy and Chris Schofield sent back Leicester's first five batsmen before the first innings deficit of 202 had been cleared.

But for the second time in the game Defreitas linked up profitably with England reject Aftab Habib who made 73 before falling to Keedy. By then Leicester were safe at 306-6 -- and Defreitas stayed to twist the knife, completing his 100 just before the end and then blasting three successive sixes off John Crawley when the Lancashire captain gave himself the last over.

Keedy and Chris Schofield shared the six wickets and the leg-spinner will wonder this weekend whether he has done enough to earn a recall for the decisive Oval Test next week.

Of his rivals Ashley Giles has an Achilles injury problem, picking Phil Tufnell might be seen as a backward step, and Ian Salisbury has proved unreliable at Test level. Schofield failed against Zimbabwe but might just squeeze back in.