THE Lancashire Cricket Board side, captained by Chorley's Roland Horridge, is just one win away from a home tie against Warwickshire in the NatWest Trophy after winning their first-round tie yesterday.

Lancashire beat Suffolk by four wickets at Mildenhall and now face the Essex Cricket Board at Cheltenham for the right to entertain the first-class county, provisionally at Middleton CC.

Burnley professional Geoff Foley was on duty for Cheshire but in a thrilling finish couldn't stop them losing to Lincolnshire on more wickets lost when the scores finished tied.

Foley was hit for a six in the final over as Lincolnshire matched Cheshire's 204 all out for the loss of nine wickets.

Elsewhere, teenager Nicky Peng fell two short of a superb century on his first class debut for Durham against county champions Surrey.

Aged 17 years 227 days, Peng looked certain to score a ton before being out on 98, caught off Ben Hollioake.

Going in at 48 for four at Chester-le-Street, he was last out with the total on 234, to which the champions replied with 47 for two in 28 overs.

International rivals Scotland and Ireland suffered a double dose of NatWest Trophy misery after being dumped out of the first round by Minor Counties opponents.