LANCASHIRE are facing their second Championship points penalty in three years after 17 wickets tumbled on the first day against Middlesex at Old Trafford.

Mike Gatting's side were the opponents in 1994 when Lancashire were controversially docked 25 points even though Neil Fairbrother hit a double century in the second innings.

On that occasion 21 wickets had fallen by lunch on the second day in totally different circumstances, with the TCCB ruling that the pitch was too damp on the first morning after over-watering.

This time it's the pitch used for the Texaco Trophy game against Pakistan last week which caused so much discussion because it was so badly cracked.

The cracks have gone, but umpires John Holder and George Sharp have already reported it as "poor" because of the turn and variable bounce which helped Mike Watkinson take five wickets for seven runs in a spell of 39 balls from the Stretford End as Middlesex were all out for 160, then made Phil Tufnell virtually unplayable from the Warwick Road End in Lancashire's reply. Tufnell took four for 42, but reflected: "I didn't have any luck - if I had I would have gone right through them." Steve Titchard showed all his powers of concentration to reach an unbeaten 47 and guide Lancashire to a first innings lead, although they suffered a blow when Richard Green ran himself out off the last ball of the first day.

So Lancashire are in with a chance of a second successive Championship win, and their third of the season, and will also have plenty of time to get down to Lord's for the NatWest Final on Saturday. But if they do win, it could be effectively wiped out depending on the verdict of TCCB Pitches Inspector Harry Brind, who arrived at Old Trafford today.

Brind has already been to Lancashire once this season, for the game against Surrey at Southport, when groundsman Peter Marron, who has now returned to the TCCB team of inspectors after resigning because of Lancashire's last points fine, escaped any punishment.

Some action seems likely this time as Gatting was unhappy when Lancashire made a late switch from a different pitch prepared by Marron yesterday morning, although their defence will be that the new pitch played well for the Texaco international despite looking so bad.

LANCASHIRE begin their defence of the Benson and Hedges Cup next season against Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

It's a tough group for Lancashire, who also have to face Dean Jones' Derbyshire, Tom Moody's Worcestershire, and for the third successive year Warwickshire.

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