LANCASHIRE were today battling to prevent the sun stopping play in tomorrow's crucial CGU National League match against Kent at Old Trafford.

They were shocked and embarrassed yesterday as, with more than an hour of the third day of the Championship match remaining, the glare of the sun off the roof of the new media centre at the Stretford End forced the players off with the teams locked in a fascinating battle.

Lancashire resumed today on 117 for three, still needing another 141 for their seventh win in eight games, with Neil Fairbrother and Graham Lloyd going well against the Kent spinners.

But Lancashire officials were just as concerned with covering up the media centre to ensure that the sunny afternoon forecast for tomorrow does not spoil the cricket for a big Old Trafford crowd.

"It's not the first time we've had problems with the sun, and the basic problem is that out square at Old Trafford runs from east to west," said chief executive Jim Cumbes.

"We'll have to cover the roof with some netting in time for Sunday." It was a bizarre end to a keenly contested day, with Gary Yates making the most of a rare Championship appearance with a career best six for 64 as Kent struggled to 159 all out in their second innings.

There were also two wickets each for Peter Martin and Gary Keedy, while Warren Hegg kept superbly to claim four catches and a stumping.

But 258 still represented a tall order for Lancashire on a worn pitch, especially against Min Patel who had take eight wickets in the first innings.

And Patel soon had Mark Chilton caught at slip with a ball that turned and bounced.

John Crawley played superbly to reach a 63-ball half century out of a total of only 63.

But then he and Glen Chapple, batting at three with Andy Flintoff again not allowed to come in until number seven, were dismissed in Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds' first over of leg-spin.

That left Lancashire in trouble at 75 for three.

Fairbrother and Lloyd responded positively and were just starting to repair the damage. Then the sun struck.

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