Hegg and Lloyd provide some consolation for Lancashire

Warren Hegg and Graham Lloyd hit glorious centuries to put Lancashire on the track of a 20 points championship win over Somerset at Old Trafford today.

But the scent of failure was in the air after Surrey's demolition of Durham at the Foster's Oval.

Even if Lancashire go on to beat Somerset tomorrow, they look destined to be runners-up for the third year on the trot. Theoretically Surrey would need one point from the last match of the summer at Old Trafford next week but, practically, there is no way Lancashire can stop them.

Hegg, acting captain, hammered 128, only six short of his career best, and his first century since 1996. He reached 100 with 13 fours off 171 balls.

Lloyd, who has struggled for top form, also claimed his first hundred of the campaign, and it was a thrilling performance with 100 runs before lunch. He finished on 126, and there was a six and 19 fours in his century which came off 132 balls.

They linked up with Lancashire at 160-5 and piled on 152 before Lloyd was adjudged lbw, perhaps a little unluckily, to a delivery from Michael Burns. Hegg kept going, receiving solid support from Glen Chapple and Mike Smethurst, and when he was out, hoisting Adrian Pierson to long-on, he declared at 463-9.

Somerset, 331 behind, looked daunted by their task and slipped to 63-4 in the face of some potent seam bowling from Peter Martin, Glen Chapple and Mike Smethurst who nabbed Jamie Cox for the second time in the match.

Lancashire are still waiting to see if they will suffer a points penalty from the pitch inspectors. Mike Denness, A C Smith, and Tom Flintoff were at the ground today and planned to interview head groundsman Peter Marron, the captains and umpires before reaching a decision.