RICHARD Green stepped into the breach for Lancashire with an impressive four-wicket performance against champions Leicestershire at Grace Road yesterday.

And it could have been even better.

Green, who was making his first appearance of the season after Ian Austin failed a late fitness test, took his four wickets for just 38 runs to reduce Leicestershire to 195-6.

He should have had a fifth when Chris Lewis was dropped by Mark Chilton at second slip.

That was an expensive is, as Lewis went on to an unbeaten 77 and shared a last wicket stand of 72 with Matthew Brimson which allowed Leicester to resume today on 337-9 after John Crawley had won the toss and put them in. But Green said: "There were no hard feelings with Mark. It was just one of those things that could happen to anyone."

Green's performance was still a new Championship best for the 23-year-old from Warrington, although he did take six wickets in a pre-season friendly against Yorkshire three years ago.

And in one innings, he has already matched his tally of first class victims for the whole of a disappointing 1998. They were good wickets too, as he sent back Vince Wells, Iain Sutcliffe, Darren Maddy for an impressive 86, and Aftab Habib.

Glen Chapple, Lancashire's only experienced seamer after Peter Martin, also pulled out with a groin strain, led the attack well and ended with 4-72 in 25 overs.

Lancashire expect Martin and Austin to be fit to return in Sunday's CGU National League game against Gloucestershire at Bristol.

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