LANCASHIRE were facing a tough qualification task in their last Benson and Hedges Cup group match at Old Trafford today after a Leicestershire runs blitz at Grace Road. Leicester went into yesterday's game against the Minor Counties with the worst run rate of the three counties battling for the two quarter final places in Group A, but lifted it to 23.32 by romping to a 256-run victory.

That left Lancashire back in third place at the start of play today, with a rate of 15.62 compared to Warwickshire's 20.24.

It meant that victory over Northants in their last game may not be enough. If Warwickshire beat Notts at Edgbaston, Lancashire will have to win by a much bigger margin (about 50 runs bigger) to edge out the Bears, or alternatively by around 150 runs to go back above Leicestershire.

It would be cruel for Lancashire to go out on run rate for the second year running, especially with the likes of Durham already having qualified from much weaker groups. Meanwhile the second team have already suffered a near miss this week. Surrey, set 323 to win by Lancashire captain Peter Sleep, hung on at 241 for eight on the last day of the opening Second Eleven Championship game at Old Trafford yesterday.

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