THERE will be no danger of complacency when Lancashire take on Northants again in the Benson & Hedges Cup Final on Saturday.

Sure, Lancashire won the first round of the contest in the NatWest Trophy at Old Trafford, and were today installed as new competition favourites after being drawn at home to Derbyshire in the quarter-finals.

But Northants fired a warning, and exposed some chinks in the Lancashire armour, with a magnificent fightback in each innings.

First they recovered from 96 for seven to a respectable total of 223 with Tony Penberthy and the veteran John Emburey setting a new NatWest record eighth wicket partnership of 112.

Then their never-say-die spirit pegged Lancashire back from a comfortable position at 68 without loss and gave a 3,000 Old Trafford crowd yet another frantic finish.

As in the Benson & Hedges Cup semi-final against Yorkshire last month, Peter Martin was the Lancashire hero, coming in at number 11 in the 59th over with three runs still needed and lofting his first ball over mid-wicket for four.

But Martin, who had earlier taken competition best bowling figures of four for 36 and was named man of the match by Bob Taylor, wasn't getting carried away.

"We nearly made a mess of it again," he admitted. "It was a nightmare watching the last 10 overs. We didn't need many runs and I didn't expect to have to bat.

"But we shouldn't have been chasing that many runs anyway. We should have restricted them to around 180 after the start we had."

It was Martin who gave Lancashire their flying start with four for 15 in his first 44 deliveries to reduce Northants to 29 for four.

Steve Elworthy weighed in with a couple more as the visitors slumped to 96 for seven but then misjudged a high catch offered by Penberthy on 41.

The Cornish-born all-rounder took Gary Yates' next over for 16 and went on to reach 79 from 84 balls before being yorked in the last over bowled by Ian Austin.

Lancashire knew all about Emburey's dogged batting qualities and the 43-year-old nudged 46 as only he can to frustrate their bowlers.

But Penberthy is another man they will have to watch in Saturday's final.

Mike Atherton and Jason Gallian gave Lancashire's reply the perfect start, seeing off a dangerous opening burst from Curtly Ambrose and Paul Taylor.

But Northants got the boost they needed when Atherton and Gallian went in the first two overs after tea.

Emburey then showed his danger with the ball, recovering from a nasty knee gash after a collision with Gallian to send back John Crawley, Graham Lloyd and Mike Watkinson at a cost of just 38.

It was easy to see how the Northants attack have laid the foundation for so much one-day success this season.

Again Lancashire had just enough depth in batting to preserve the hopes of a repeat of the 1990 Lord's double - although Derbyshire, led by Dean Jones and including Dominic Cork and Phil DeFreitas, will present a formidable challenge in the last eight.

Glen Chapple was today left at home as the Lancashire squad headed for their Slough base to prepare for Saturday, although it is hoped he will be available for selection.

Lancashire have been installed as 5-2 favourites with William Hill for the NatWest Trophy after being drawn at home to Derbyshire in the quarter-finals. Full draw: Lancashire v Derbyshire; Surrey v Somerset; Hampshire v Essex; Sussex v Yorkshire. Ties to be played on Tuesday July 30.

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