GRAHAM LLOYD warmed up for Lancashire's NatWest Trophy quarter final showdown with Dominic Cork and Derbyshire tomorrow with his second whirlwind century in consecutive days in South Wales.
Cork, who seems to save his best form for games against Lancashire, will be returning to Old Trafford exactly one year to the day since his historic Test hat-trick against West Indies.
But Lloyd gave Lancashire the boost they needed by following his 100 before lunch in the Championship game at Cardiff with 116 from 82 balls to set up a victory over Glamorgan by faster scoring rate in a rain-affected Sunday match at Swansea.
It saved Lancashire from their worst-ever run in the Sunday League after four consecutive defeats and Lloyd admitted: "We needed that. The wheels had fallen off in one day cricket, but now we can go into the Derby game with confidence." Lloyd put the wheels back on after Lancashire had lost an important toss given the uncertain weather and slipped to 14-2 against the impressive Steve Watkin.
He was promoted to number four ahead of the returning Neil Fairbrother by coach John Stanworth and linked up in a stand of 100 in 16 overs with Jason Gallian.
Lloyd powered past his century in 74 balls with four sixes and 11 fours and with Warren Hegg hitting the biggest six of the day over the rugby stand and towards the sea, Lancashire reached 219-5 from their 31 overs.
Glamorgan's target was reduced to 185 from 28 by another shower during tea and after Peter Martin fired out both openers in his first two overs, Matthew Maynard and Tony Cottey put them on course with a stand of 71 in 10. Cottey, who at five foot three would be more suited for Bob Willis' mighty midget description than Fairbrother, hammered 39 from 28 balls. But then he holed out to John Crawley at deep square leg off the medium pace of Mike Watkinson and the Lancashire captain turned the game alongside Steve Elworthy who staked his claim for a NatWest place with a fine spell.
Both put the brakes on Glamorgan at the crucial stage and with Martin returning for a third wicket the Welshmen ended 13 runs short of their target - which also ended their outside title chances.
Fairbrother came through his return from a calf injury with no problems so Lancashire will be picking from full strength assuming Mike Atherton returns fully fit from the Lord's Test, which leaves them with the usual selection headache - who to leave out.
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