Lancashire hand National League title to Gloucestershire

Lancashire handed the National League title they have won for the last two years to Gloucestershire by beating Somerset in a thrilling day-night match at Old Trafford.

Somerset were the only team who could overhaul Gloucestershire but they fell 10 runs short of Lancashire's 236 for four despite a brilliant century from their Australian captain Jamie Cox - with Gloucestershire's players watching nervously in a Brighton hotel.

Lancashire are still virtually certain to be relegated but at least they salvaged some pride despite the absence of four England players - Mike Atherton, Andy Flintoff and the injured John Crawley and Peter Martin.

Sourav Ganguly was their hero, scoring his third one-day century of the season after stand-in skipper Warren Hegg had won the toss and chosen to bat.

Ganguly, who has failed to score a century in the Championship, made 102 from 137 balls with eight boundaries, sharing stands of 82 with Mark Chilton and 115 in 19 overs with Neil Fairbrother.

It took the Indian left-hander's tally in 11 National League games to 532 runs at an average of almost 60, in addition to 262 runs from four NatWest Trophy innings.

Fairbrother also played a key role with another one-day masterclass, scoring 62 from 56 balls with six fours and a pair of sixes over long on.

Mark Lathwell gave Somerset's reply the perfect start with 53 from 83 balls including six stylish boundaries.

He was bowled by Gary Keedy but as long as Cox was in, Somerset's title hopes were very much alive.

The Tasmanian cruised to three figures in only 98 balls despite only hitting five boundaries, including a straight six off Chris Schofield.

But Schofield played a vital part in Lancashire's victory, claiming the wickets of Michael Burns and Ian Blackwell and also running out Keith Parsons with a direct hit from backward point.

But as so often for Lancashire, it was Ian Austin who applied the finishing touches.

Somerset needed 23 from three overs when Austin returned to the attack and he put Somerset under so much pressure that Cox was run out by Glen Chapple.

Austin then polished off two wickets in the last over as Lancashire enjoyed only their fifth win of the season.

But they will hardly have enjoyed handing the title to Gloucestershire, who virtually condemned them to relegation at Bristol on Monday after beating them at the semi final stage of both the NatWest Trophy and Benson and Hedges Cup earlier this season.