LANCASHIRE were in sight of a crushing championship win over Leicester at Old Trafford today.

And Chris Schofield was aiming to make it another day to remember by adding some wickets to his brilliant performance with the bat.

The 21-year-old leg spinner hammered 66, his best Lancashire score, to confirm that he has the talent to develop as a genuine all rounder. It followed two half centuries, including 74 for England A, on his successful winter tour.

Schofield said: "I enjoyed that. But the important thing is that we win the game, and my job is to take wickets."

His bowling slipped below his usual standards during a Leicester fightback, but he compensated by being in the right place to hold three catches as the ragged Leicester batting folded to 155-6, still 68 behind.

Schofield claimed one vital wicket, Darren Maddy pushing forward and edging to Sourav Ganguly at slip after Glen Chapple, helped by some poor strokeplay, had run through Leicester's top three.

But then bowling around the wicket, he lost some line and length and captain John Crawley had to bring back the seamers to push Leicester back into trouble with Andy Flintoff and Mike Smethurst doing the damage.

It was Lancashire's best day of the season so far. Neil Fairbrother stretched his 41st century to 138, Schofield helped him to pile on 72, and Chapple and Peter Martin also contributed as they stormed to 488.

Leicester's resistance was shoddy. Four batsmen got out to bad shots, the worst coming at the end, a half hearted pull from Chris Lewis which gave Schofield the easiest chance of the lot.