FORGET Billy Joel's throat - what about Wasim Akram's shoulder?

Lancashire had a double reason to curse illness and injury today.

Joel's throat infection may have forced them to cancel his lucrative Old Trafford concert with Elton John last night after months preparation.

But in Northampton, Wasim's continuing shoulder problems were threatening to cost them a crucial Championship victory.

Lancashire badly missed their Pakistani cutting edge after Ian Austin had led a battling recovery against Northants.

Austin had followed his 64 with two quick wickets, and with Peter Martin and Glen Chapple claiming one each in lively opening spells, Lancashire had Northants in trouble at 73-4.

But Mal Loye, fresh from his amazing treble century in Northants' last game against Glamorgan, held up Lancashire with another ton, sharing partnerships of 105 with Tony Pemberthy and an unbroken 75 with David Ripley.

So Northants resumed today with a lead of 18, and five wickets still to fall.

It wasn't just the absence of Wasim which cost Lancashire dear. They had no luck at all, as Martin, Chapple and Austin regularly went past the outside edge, and Loye survived two scares.

On 41, the classy right-hander fell into Lancashire skipper John Crawley's trap by hooking a Chapple bouncer to long leg, where Austin got a despairing right hand to the ball, but couldn't stop it going for four.

And then just before the close of play yesterday, at 7.55pm, Loye edged Mike Watkinson between Warren Hegg and Andy Flintoff at slip. For Lancashire, it was that kind of day.

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