JASON Gallian hit a new Sunday best as Lancashire humbled title holders Kent at Canterbury yesterday but he was one of the early casualties as the Red Rose county chased a total of 340 on day four of the County Championship today.

Gallian was dismissed for 12 and John Crawley for five as Lancashire slipped to 57 for two.

Yesterday Gallian missed out on the chance to create more Lancashire history with his opening partner Mike Atherton.

The pair set a new Lancashire best in the Benson & Hedges Cup against Warwickshire almost exactly a year ago with a stand of 210, and were well on the way to Lancashire's highest-ever opening stand in the Sunday League yesterday. But with the score on 159, just 26 short of their modest victory target and 18 off the record of 177 set by Graeme Fowler and Gehan Mendis in 1986, also at Canterb ury, Gallian flicked a catch to Carl Hooper at mid-wicket.

His 85, which came off 84 balls with 11 fours, beat his previous best of 84 against Essex at Chelmsford two years ago and boosted his hopes of an England call-up in the Texaco Trophy against India.

Atherton stayed to guide Lancashire to a nine wicket win with five overs to spare and ended unbeaten on 79 from 116 balls, his first Sunday League half century since hitting 103 against Durham in the first game of last season. Skipper Mike Watkinson said: "It was a great effort by the pair of them. It wasn't easy batting out there early on and they looked a bit puzzled."

Lancashire seamers had exploited the helpful conditions to restrict Kent to 184 for 9 in their 40 overs after they had opted to bat first with Watkinson taking 2 for 29 and Peter Martin 2 for 24.

Today Lancashire were looking for another good start from Atherton and Gallian as they chased a daunting target of 340 to beat Kent in the championship match and go into tomorrow's important B&H qualifier with five wins out of five in all competitions.

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