JOHN Crawley lifted his first trophy as Lancashire captain at Old Trafford yesterday - then praised a great team effort.

Lancashire were crowned champions of the CGU National League First Division after they beat Kent by five wickets and title rivals Worcestershire lost at Hampshire.

The bulk of a 5,400 crowd stayed on after Crawley's unbeaten 85 had steered Lancashire to victory to listen to the news of Worcestershire's fortunes in Southampton - with the Lancashire players watching the score updates on Ceefax in the dressing room.

And after 20 minutes or so, Hampshire's victory was confirmed. Lancashire had retained the title they won as the Axa League last season - and Crawley led the celebrations on the pavilion balcony.

"I am very proud of the way we have played," he said. "It was very tense and we hadn't really expected Hampshire to win. But we can look back now on what has been a successful season."

Crawley certainly left his mark on yesterday's win, taking over as wicket keeper when Warren Hegg was forced off with a badly cut mouth and claiming three stumpings off Mike Wakinson as well as playing the match winning innings. Chairman Jack Simmons praised the efforts of his new captain, and other senior players like Hegg and Neil Fairbrother, for stepping into the breach when Dav Whatmore quit as coach in mid season.

"We asked the captain and the senior players to take on extra responsibility to fill the gap left by Dav and they have been brilliant," a delighted Simmons said. "They didn't even ask for a rise. They have raised their game this season in difficult circumstances and that speaks highly of the captain and the whole dressing room."

Lightning have gone unbeaten in 11 matches in the National League since losing at home to Worcestershire way back in June, winning 10 with only the abandoned floodlit game against Warwickshire interrupting their run.

And in all cricket they have lost only one match out of 16 - the NatWest Trophy quarter final against Yorkshire - since Whatmore handed control over to Crawley and the players.

What had threatened to be a disastrous first season in charge for Crawley has turned into a triumph, with Lancashire poised to clinch second place in the Championship - again for the second consecutive year - if they can beat Somerset at Taunton this week. "We are used to winning one day trophies but what has pleased me is our performance in the Championship," said Crawley. "We have been outstanding. We didn't start well but we got our act together after a couple of months and played faultlessly for the rest of the season."

Lancashire's win yesterday was built around a typically accurate spell from Ian Austin, then Watkinson's three wickets and two for Chris Schofield as Kent were restricted to 198-7 in their 45 overs.

Watkinson and Schofield, who was promoted to number three in the absence of the injured Andy Flintoff, then gave the reply a flying start before Crawley and a swollen mouthed Hegg steered them home with two overs to spare.

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