SOURAV Ganguly blasted a NatWest Trophy warning to holders Gloucester with a dazzling performance at Old Trafford.

India's captain, the world's number two batsman in one day international cricket, hammered a remarkable 101 not out as bottom of the table Lancashire Lightning stormed to a 10 wicket win over title chasing Gladiators in the Norwich Union National League.

It put him in perfect shape for the NatWest semi at Bristol on Sunday and opened up a possible escape route for Lightning in their bid to beat relegation.

Ganguly is determined to stride out on to the Lord's turf on August 26 explaining: "I have special memories of that ground because it is where I made my Test debut and I would love to go back there in a final with Lancashire. It would be one of the highlights of my career."

And captain John Crawley said: "It was a magnificent innings and this has given us a psychological boost for the semi."

Gloucester coach John Bracewell tried to limit the damage saying: "The semi is another game, with a red ball rather than a white one and that suits us better. Also we are playing on our own ground in front of a big crowd and we're still very confident." But Lancashire have bounced back in style after their debacle at Headingley on Wednesday and Crawley added: "We have shown ourselves to be mentally strong."

Gloucester have another worry with keeper Jack Russell going off with a side strain and they will have to wait until tomorrw morning before making a decision on him.

With a meagre target of 138 after restricting Gloucester to 137-9, Ganguly began patiently but accelerated to reach a glorious century-- his secodn in one day cricket for Lancashire -- off only 100 balls. And, with two sixes and fours, it was just as entertaining as some of Andy Flintoff's displays.

This was the perfect way for Lightning to reclaim their pride after being shot out for 68 by Yorkshire Phoenix, and it has kept alive their hopes of beating the drop into division two.

Peter Martin returned for his first senior game in nine weeks, and Ian Austin returned to top form with 4-14 to blow away the Gladiators' top six. Jack Russell's fighting 40 saved them from immediate humiliation after they had slumped to 52-7, but Ganguly punished them mercilessly. Meanwhile, Lancashire are unhappy about being singled out as the only county to lose a contracted player to domestic matches this week following the withdrawal of Michael Atherton from their National League fixtures.

All the other 11 players with central contracts have featured for their counties this week including strike bowlers Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick, whose efforts with the new ball for England have prompted coach Duncan Fletcher to withdraw them from domestic cricket on a regular basis.

But Atherton was rested for Wednesday's comprehensive nine-wicket National League defeat by Yorkshire at Headingley, a result which could have an important bearing on Lancashire's attempt to avoid relegation from the First Division.

Atherton, who celebrated his 100th Test appearance in last week's drawn match against West Indies at Old Trafford, was also missing from today's fixture with Gloucestershire.