Date-stamped : 22 Jul97 - 10:46
Lancashire  gave  their  title  chase  impetus by strolling to an
eight-wicket  victory  over  Sussex  at Old  Trafford.  The  very
first ball of the match shot off a length and dealt  Keith Green-
field  a nasty crack  on  the  hand,  sowing doubt in  the  minds
of the Sussex batsmen.

They  lost  three  wickets for only 37, but Neil Taylor then bat-
ted with authority  and,  with  Rajesh  Rao,  added  66  from  12
overs.  Once Taylor was dismissed the innings declined to 170 all
out.

A scorching sun had calmed the pitch by   the   time   Lancashire
batted  and,   although   Vasbert  Drakes  and Paul Jarvis bowled
keenly early in the innings, runs  came  at  a  fair  rate.  Mike
Atherton  and  Jason Gallian, who made 80 not out, put on 103 for
the first wicket, Gallian reaching his fifty off  only  63  balls
then  leaving  it to Neil Fairbrother - 34 off 31 balls - to lead
the final charge.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

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