PETER Martin bowled Lancashire into a strong position in their key championship game against Nottinghamshire today at Old Trafford.

The pace ripped through the upper order, to leave Jason Gallian's side on 44-4 from 14 overs.

The former Lancashire man was one of three Martin victims, caught by Mike Watkinson for a duck.

Richard Green was the other successful bowler as dangerman Paul Johnson was caught behind for 14.

Gallian returned to the ground where he scored an historic treble century for Lancashire three years ago as the captain of a Nottinghamshire side who have made an impressive start to the season.

They have won two matches out of three to climb into the top six of the table, in stark contrast to Lancashire who are in the bottom five without a win.

Gallian takes no pleasure in seeing his former county struggle - but John Crawley and co could expect few favours today.

"We've had a good start to the season and we're especially keen to carry that on at Old Trafford, where the Notts boys have not had a great record in the last few years," said the 27-year-old.

"But for me it's great to be back. The place holds so many good memories for me." Lancashire beat Notts three times last season, in the championship and AXA League at Trent Bridge and in a NatWest Trophy quarter final at Old Trafford despite a brave 83 from Gallian.

Shortly after that game he took over the captaincy from Paul Johnson, but Gallian's situation was thrown back into uncertainty when former Lancashire coach Alan Ormrod - who had persuaded him to go to Trent Bridge - was sacked.

But already Gallian is enjoying working with Ormrod's successor, the former South Africa captain Clive Rice, who was a big favourite alongside Richard Hadlee as a Notts player in the 1980s.

Lancashire: N T Wood, M J Chilton, J P Crawley (Capt), P C McKeown G D Lloyd, M Watkinson, W K Hegg (Wkt), G Chapple, P J Martin R J Green, C P Schofield.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.