LANCASHIRE Lightning signed off the worst season in their league history with an easy win over Sussex Sharks at Old Trafford.

Sourav Ganguly gave them a whirlwind start, got out to a disappointing shot and then went straight to the airport to fly back to India.

The applause from a 4,000 crowd -- a generous bout of hand clapping was hardly an ovation -- as he walked back to the pavilion for the last time summed up his debut season in County Cricket.

The India captain was comfortably Lancashire's top scorer in one-day cricket, with an impressive 569 runs in the league, but he was disappointing in the championship. And somehow he never captured the imagination of the fans in the same way as Muttiah Muraliatharan or Wasim Akram.

Next season Lancashire are pinning their hopes on Murali if he can guarantee playing at least 10 Championship games which will depend in Sri Lanka's programme.

After Ganguly's exit Mike Atherton hit a solid half century and although they were hampered by a rain break, relegated Lightning strode to their reduced target of 153 with six wickets and three overs to spare.

Gary Keedy recorded a career best 5-30 and today was wondering whether he would be chosen alongside team mate Chris Schofield for England A's tour of the Caribbean.

SUSSEX

U Rashid c Fairbrother b Martin 9

R Montgomerie b Smethurst 44

MBevan b Schofield 52

B Zuiderent b Keedy 1

W House b Keedy 0

P Cottey not out 45

R Martin-Jenkins st Haynes b Keedy 1

N Witton c Austin b Keedy 0

R Kirtley c Haynes b Keedy 2

B Taylor run out 5

M Robinson not out 15

Extras 21

Total (9 wkts) 195

Bowling: Martin 9-1-24-1; Austin 9-1-44-0; Smethurst 9-0-35-1; Schofield 9-0-54-1; Keedy 9-0-30-5

LANCASHIRE

M Atherton run out 51

S Ganguly c Bevan b Martin-Jenkins 22

M Chilton st Wilton b Rashid 19

N Fairbrother c enkins b Robinson 6

G Lloyd not out 18

C Schofield not out 24

Extras 14

Total (4 wkts) 154

Bowling: Kirtley 5-0-31-0; Martin-Jenkins 7-0-32-1; Taylor 6-0-36-0; Robinson 7-0-28-1; Rashid 6-0-24-1