LANCASHIRE faced a battle to save their championship game against Leicestershire at Grace Road today after a poor bowling performance and four dropped catches threw away the initiative.

Leicester resumed on 380-5, already seven runs ahead, after an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 165 between South African all rounder Neil Johnson and wicket keeper Paul Nixon.

But former Accrington professional Johnson should have gone on 20, when he mis-timed a drive off Gary Yates only for Gary Keedy to miss the simple chance at mid off.

And Lancashire also blew an opportunity to reduce the champions to 170-5 when Ian Austin spilled a straightforward slip chance offered by Aftab Habib on nought.

That should have given Jason Gallian his second wicket in a lively first over after an imaginative bowling change by Mike Atherton - Gallian had already sent back Leicester opener Vince Wells five runs short of a century. Instead Habib hit 38 from 35 balls, then Johnson and Nixon piled on the agony for Lancashire.

Lancashire badly missed Mike Watkinson and Wasim Akram, but both are doubtful for tomorrow's Axa Life League game as they aim for a fifth consecutive win to stay top of the table.

Andy Flintoff bounced back from a car crash which affected his back problem with a superb unbeaten century to lead Lancashire's second team to an amazing win against Derbyshire yesterday.

The England under 19 captain was involved in a smash on his way to the first day of the game, in Cheadle, Staffordshire, on Wednesday.

And Lancashire were furious that with no physio facilities provided by Derbyshire, Flintoff had to go back to Old Trafford for treatment - along with Steve Titchard and Richard Green, who suffered injuries during the game.

Flintoff and Titchard were unable to bat in Lancashire's first innings and they struggled to 188 all out despite a defiant 86 from Paddy McKeown.

But in the second innings it was a different story as McKeown hit 106 and Flintoff a magnificent unbeaten 187 to steer them to a daunting victory target of 440 with two wickets to spare.

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