AT LAST, a win! Lancashire's 22-run victory over Sussex Sharks in the latest MEN-sponsored floodlit National League match at Old Trafford last night was not one of the club's most memorable one-day triumphs.

But after a run of two draws and five defeats in all competitions since their last success, nobody cared.

The feeling of relief amongst the players and an encouraging 6,100 crowd was so great that when a brilliant piece of fielding by Glen Chapple ran out Zimbabwean dangerman Murray Goodwin, Lancashire celebrated as if they had clinched the title -- rather than taken a big step to avoid finishing bottom of the Second Division.

After the agonising last-over defeat in their last National League game against Middlesex at Lords seven days earlier, Lightning were taking nothing for granted even after Sussex slipped to 41 for four.

But this time all the bowlers held their nerve, with John Wood earning two for 20 from his nine overs, Andy Flintoff blasting out a couple of important wickets and Chris Schofield weighing in with three for 30 at the death.

Sussex were all out for 178 off the first ball of the last over, and Lancashire had won by 22 runs.

It looked set to be the same depressing story as they slumped to one for two in the fourth over with Chapple and Mark Chilton going cheaply after John Crawley had won the toss and chosen to bat.

But Crawley led from the front again with a sensible 90-ball half century, then Graham Lloyd stepped up the pace later in the Lancashire innings with 56 from 56 balls including several outrageous reverse sweeps.

Lloyd has now scored 153 runs in the last three National League matches, and was rewarded with a good benefit collection.

Wood and Chapple, who conceded only 13 runs from his first seven overs, then had Sussex in trouble from the start, with Richard Montgomerie only scoring a single in the first 10 overs.

And when the dogged opener was finally ninth out, bowled by Flintoff for 76 in the 44th over, Lancashire could finally relax.

They travelled to Colchester today for the crucial Championship match against Essex in better heart, with Warren Hegg hoping to return after missing last night's game with his groin injury, although Peter Martin is

not expected to play again this season because of his shin problem.