GRAHAM Lloyd underlined his status as the country's most exciting run-maker at Edgbaston.

The Lancashire star hammered a half century in only 42 balls with 10 explosive boundaries.

And he punished Ashley Giles so severely that the England A left arm spinner lost all control.

"It was brilliant batting," said Lancashire's acting captain John Crawley.

"It's his game and that's the way you should always play ."

Lloyd gave one chance - a sitter to mid-off which was dropped by Tim Munton - and he slowed up after that as Giles concentrated on negative leg stump bowling.

But he resumed today on 63, hoping to stretch an already valuable stand with Neil Fairbrother and to take Lancashire into a match winning position.

Crawley himself had set a fine example with a superb 73 until he was bowled by off-spinner Neil Smith.

Lancashire marched to 281 for three, 105 behind, and Crawley said: "There is still a lot of work to be done but I am pleased with the way we batted. The pitch has flattened out and hopefully there are a lot more runs in it for us."

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