Ganguly delights but misses ton

J P Crawley and Neil Fairbrother scored brilliant centuries while India captain Sourav Ganguly missed the mark narrowly as Lancashire declared their first innings at 574 for five - a lead of 202 runs - in a first division championship match against Leicestershire.

Leicestershire, who scored 372 in the first innings, were 75 for one in their second essay at draw of stumps on Thursday.

Ganguly provided the best shots of the morning on the second day of the four-day match at a time when Defreitas, outstanding in the match, had conceded only 28 runs in a 17-over spell.

"Ganguly missed a great chance for his first Lancashire hundred and an early chance to diffuse rumours of dressing room discontent," the Daily Telegraph commented on Friday.

"Overseas players have to be very special, but India's gentle captain, it appears, has not been up to the mark - certainly when compared to Wasim Akram and lively Muttiah Muralitharan, who is likely to return next year," it wrote.

A Lancashire spokesman, however, refuted reports that there was discontentment due to Ganguly's performance.

The daily said there were raised eyebrows when Ganguly left the crease for several minutes the previous evening, but his absence was due to a contact lens problem.

With sight restored to full beam, he unleashed some sumptuous cover drives, it said.

Brief Scores: Leicestershire 372 and 75 for one. Lancashire 574 for 5 wkts declared. (J P Crawley 139, Fairbrother 100 not out, S Ganguly 87, W K Hegg 65 not out. Defreitas 2-112, Kumble 1-40).

Mail Cricket Editor