Cricket: Lancashire take title

JOHN CRAWLEY led Lancashire Lightning to the CGU National League title at Old Trafford last night with an all-round display to help beat Kent Spitfires by five wickets.

Needing victory against Kent and their nearest rivals Worcestershire Royals to lose against Hampshire Hawks, events worked out in their favour as they took their eighth one-day trophy of the decade.

Crawley had been forced to take over behind the stumps from Warren Hegg after the latter suffered a painful blow to the mouth. Crawley then claimed three stumpings in Hegg's absence as Kent were restricted to 198 for 7 and then hit an unbeaten 85.