JOHN Crawley has finally ended his wait for a century.

The Lancashire skipper hit nine in his golden year in 1998, but had not managed one this season until breaking his duck on the first day of the championship match against Hampshire at Southampton.

Crawley rode his luck, offering a caught and bowled chance to Nixon McLean on 52 and two chances to Jason Laney at slip, on 82 and 101. But he was due some good fortune after suffering some strange dismissals this season and reached three figures from 199 balls with 17 boundaries.

With Mark Chilton continuing his consistent form with another half century, and Neil Fairbrother stroking 83 from 120 balls - his best score of the season - Lancashire resumed today on 329-5.

All this after Crawley had lost the toss and Robin Smith had put Lancashire in on a green looking pitch.

Mike Atherton quickly had Smith regretting that decision as he picked up where he left off in Blackpool last week, racing to 39 in confident style until chasing a wide one from McLean. Then Crawley joined Chilton for a second wicket stand of 79, and after Chilton went for 51 in the 50th over, also caught behind, Fairbrother linked up with his skipper to put on 139.

Lancashire are already in a strong position to push for their third consecutive championship win, which could take them into the all-important top nine.

Muttiah Muralitharan will be relishing the prospect of bowling last but he will have to carry the spinning burden on his own after Lancashire left out young leg spinner Chris Schofield and recalled Glen Chapple and Peter Martin to a four pronged seam attack.

Meanwhile, Jamie Haynes and Paddy McKeown hit half centuries as Lancashire's second team reached 321 all out on the first day of their match against Surrey at the Oval yesterday.

Darren Gough will discover today whether he can play in next Wednesday's NatWest Trophy quarter final against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Gough is seeing a specialist after suffering a recurrence of the calf injury which has now ruled him out of the first two Tests against New Zealand.

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