LANCASHIRE were grateful again today for the battling attitude of their men-for-a-crisis Warren Hegg and Hraham Lloyd.

For the second time in as many days at Derby, Hegg steered Lancashire from the jaws of disaster after a flop by the recognised batsmen.

On Wednesday it was 71-6 in the first innings, and yesterday they plumbed the new depths of 38-5 in the second.

But Hegg followed his vital 41 in the first innings with an unbeaten 29, sharing a sixth wicket stand with Lloyd which kept Lancashire on course for a fourth straight Championship win.

Hegg perished today for 48 but Lloyd was still going strong on 91 after another first innings hero, Glen Chapple went for a duck as Lancashire built their strong lead of 275.

Hegg, discarded by England this summer despite playing in the last two Tests in Australia, has enjoyed a consistent season even by his reliable standards.

He passed 500 runs in the first innings and could easily end up top of the batting averages.

Lancashire's batsmen were in danger of squandering the big advantage earned by Peter Martin and Muttiah Muralitharan.

Martin claimed 5-51 and Murali 4-22 as Derbyshire slipped from 80-3 to 132 all out, giving Lancashire a first innings lead of 92 - and taking Murali's tally for the season to 59 from 11 Championship innings, with one more to go.

But their second innings got off to a disastrous start with unsung Derby swing bowler Paul Aldred again doing the damage.

In the space of six balls the 30-year-old from Bakewell had Mark Chilton caught in the slips, Neil Fairbrother bowled for a duck and John Crawley caught behind down the leg side to leave Lancashire 7-3.

As in the first innings, Andy Flintoff looked in superb form and raced to 29 with some handsome shots. But then, again as in the first innings, he hit Aldred uppishly to gully.

That gave Aldred 10 wickets sin a match for the first time in his career and he was immediately awarded his county cap.

He then added the wicket of Chris Schofield to claim his 11th victim.

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