SUNDAY hero Jason Gallian today handed bubbling Lancashire another boost - a hint that he wants to stay with the county.

Gallian's contract is up at the end of the season and he has already been linked with a string of other clubs, including yesterday's opponents Sussex.

But after steering Lancashire to a comfortable eight wicket victory with 80 not out, his fourth match-winning innings in his last five Sunday appearances, the 26-year-old said: "There is still a pretty high chance that I will be a Lancashire player next year.

"But first I have to play this season through and will be giving it 110 per cent before sitting down with the committee at the end of the season." Gallian faced 107 balls and hit eight boundaries including some glorious straight drives as Lancashire cruised past a target of 170 with eight wickets and more than five overs to spare.

It was the third time he has batted all through their innings this season, following 54 not out in a low-scoring game against Notts and an unbeaten 101 against Northants , his maiden Sunday century.

Gallian then hit another ton at Leicester the following week before suffering a broken hand at Taunton which ruled him out for a month.

And he could have had a third century in four innings yesterday, following a rare failure on his comeback match against Middlesex, if it wasn't for a spectacular little knock from Neil Fairbrother.

Lancashire still needed 51 when Fairbrother came in after a failure for John Crawley, but the left-hander smashed 34 from 30 balls, including three boundaries in an over off young Sussex seamer James Kirtley to wrap up the win.

Earlier Peter Martin had continued his superb Sunday form with 3-26, taking his wickets tally for the season to 19, while there were also three for Darren Shadford and Ian Austin claimed 1-14 in eight mean overs, exploiting a helpful pitch superbly.

Then Gallian and Mike Atherton set Lancashire on the way with an opening stand of 103 in 23 overs. With title rivals Kent and Warwickshire both losing, Lancashire are now joint top with Essex - who they play at Old Trafford on September 7 in the penultimate game of the season.

And on Wednesday they will be going for their fourth consecutive Championship victory against Hampshire at Southampton after three wickets each for Austin and Gary Yates polished off Sussex on Saturday.

Austin ended with match figures of 6-70 from 36 overs while Yates claimed 5-59 in the second innings as Lancashire won by an innings and 18 runs - ending an Old Trafford Championship drought going back exactly two years.

Lancashire are now eighth in the table, 20 points behind third-placed Gloucestershire and 19 more behind leaders Glamorgan, although the Welsh county have played a game more.

But skipper Mike Watkinson isn't getting carried away with talk of an unlikely title challenge.

"We have turned the corner in the Championship and it was brilliant to win at Old Trafford, but after the start we had it is pointless talking about anything but the next game," he said.

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