NEIL Fairbrother has been reported to Lord's for his on-field showdown with James Whitaker in Lancashire's stormy Sunday League defeat by Leicestershire.

Umpire Bob White confirmed last night that he would be including the incident, sparked off when Leicester spinner Adrian Pierson ran out Fairbrother as he backed up, in his report to the TCCB.

Both Fairbrother and Whitaker could face disciplinary action after exchanging angry words before the Lancashire star pointed his finger at the Leicestershire skipper, all clearly seen by a three thousand crowd.

Ian Austin could also be in hot water after throwing his bat down in disgust when Dickie Bird failed to signal a wide from the penultimate ball of the match.

Fairbrother, who was eventually called back by Whitaker and went on to hit 93 from 77 balls to continue his brilliant one-day form, returned for Lancashire in today's Benson and Hedges Cup showdown with Warwickshire at Old Trafford after missing the last day of the Championship game against Leicester.

It was a good day to miss as Leicestershire avoided the follow-on leaving Lancashire to have some batting practice in the last two sessions. Jason Gallian and John Crawley capitalised with their first Championship fifties of the season.

But with just 13 points from their first two games, the limited overs competitions already look like Lancashire's best bet of glory this season after their inability to bowl Leicester out for less than 346. They have already qualified for the B&H quarter finals with Warwickshire, but the sides were battling for a home tie in the last eight today.

And Lancashire were given a hammering with openers Nick Knight and Neil Smith taking advantage of the restrictions on boundary fielders in the first 15 overs to smash 97 off 13 before Gary Yates finally broke their stand, having Smith caught at point immediately after reaching a 43 ball 50.

Peter Martin then had Knight caught at mid-wicket by Neil Fairbrother for 47 from 47 balls and Jason Gallian snapped up Paul Smith at backward point off Glen Chapple to make it 132 for 3 in the 18th. Gallian and Fairbrother both dropped difficult chances offered by Trevor Penney on six and 16, allowing Penney and Dominic Ostler to put on 36 for the fourth wicket, but in the 25th over Yates had Ostler caught by Atherton to boost Lancashire's hopes of denying Warwickshire a huge total.

But Lancashire, who left out Steve Elworthy and Nick Speak, were still regretting a much simpler dropped chance by John Crawley off Knight from Peter Martin's first ball of the day.

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