LANCASHIRE defied the weather, the Duckworth-Lewis system, and the Northants Steelbacks, to claim their first win of the season in the National League last night.

A surprisingly good crowd of 5,100 ignored the gusty wind and squally showers, and saw Lightning get their act together at last.

Lancashire bowled Northants out for 178 despite a calf injury to Ian Austin which threatens to rule him out of Tuesday's Roses showdown with Yorkshire Phoenix, also under the Old Trafford lights. But after a rain interruption they were then left to score 182 from 42 overs -- four more runs than their original target. Fortunately Mike Atherton and Sourav Ganguly had given them a flying start with an opening stand of 73.

And although Atherton, John Crawley and Andy Flintoff all went in quick succession, Ganguly and Neil Fairbrother had put Lightning back on course at 118-3 in the 26th over when more rain forced an early finish -- and Lancashire won by 24 runs.

It was a good performance by Lancashire and especially Ganguly, who followed his man of the match award in the NatWest Trophy at Lincolnshire on Wednesday with another three wickets and 47 not out

The Steelbacks had made a good start with Aussie skipper Matthew Hayden approaching a half century. And Lancashire's chances took a blow when Austin pulled up durng his third over -- forcing him to bowl his last ball from a standing start, much to the amusement of his team mates.

But Ganguly, Flintoff and Mike Watkinson kept things tight and grabbed crucial wickets in the second half of the Steelbacks innings. And off the field, the club were equally happy with their first Friday night match.

"On a decent day I think we would have got six or seven thousand," said chief executive Jim Cumbes.

"A Friday night match seems to have proved worthwhile although we will keep working at it to find out what is the best day for floodlit cricket."