LANCASHIRE face crunch time in their bid to sign Shane Warne next week.

Warnes' agent, Austin Robertson, is flying to England for talks with the four counties who have made offers to the leg spin wizzard - Lancashire, Northants, Notts and Sussex.

Lancashire face a tough battle with Sussex already making a six figure offer and prepared to throw everything at Warne in a bid to recover from a disastrous season. But Lancashire are hopeful that his previous success at Old Trafford and the number of internationals on their books will swing things their way.

Whatever, Warne won't come cheap especially with Lancashire pledging to guarantee a contract and benefit for Wasim Akram, already signed up for next year. They still insist that they have approached Warne as cover if a further specialist's report later this month does not clear Wasim's shoulder injury.

Lancashire could have done with Warne yesterday as they allowed Derbyshire to recover from 189-6 to 408-9 - putting a massive dent in their outside championship hopes.

They made a superb start after Mike Watkinson had won the toss and chosen to field with three wickets from Peter Martin completing 50 for the season in first class cricket and reducing Derbyshire to 189-6.

But Bolton-born wicket keeper Karl Krikken then linked up with Phil DeFraitas in a partnership of 124 in 21 overs.

Krikken who offered a sharp chance to second slip on 14 of the unlucky Richard Green, went on to 72 until he was run out by a deflection from Darren Shadford while DeFraitas fell four runs short of a whirlwind century against his former county.

Previous sport story

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