LANCASHIRE were on the edge of an embarrassing tour defeat in South Africa today.

With only two second innings wickets left they began the third and final day just 45 ahead of the Western Province Academy.

Lancashire, containing a mixture of experience and youth for their opening match of the two weeks trip, crashed to 110-8 with Warren Hegg and Richard Green at the crease.

Captain John Crawley made only 15, and the only batsman to make any impression was Graham Lloyd with 31.

However, there was some encouragement from the performance of seamer Darren Shadford who claimed 4-62 as WPA reached 270-9 dec in their first knock.

The Oldham youngster is fighting for a place in the championship attack at the start of the season, following Wasim Akram's departure and the World Cup selection of Ian Austin and Andy Flintoff.

Western Province Academy v Lancs (at Constantia): Lancs 1st innings 205-7 dec (Paddy McKeown 59), WPA 1st inns 270-9 dec (R Lewis 66, Darren Shadford 4-62), Lancs 2nd inns 110-8 (Graham Lloyd 31).

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