LANCASHIRE appeared to be coasting toward victory in Old Trafford as they raced on to 80 without loss after 15 overs of their allocation of 45.

Chasing Kent’s modest total of 203 all out, the Lightning openers’ Mal Loye and Iain Sutcliffe had 50 up on the board within 12 overs.

Left-hander Loye timed the ball beautifully to take driven boundaries off Martin Saggers and Andrew Symonds.

Sutcliffe, tall and broad shouldered, also slog swept Symonds into the red brick pavilion at the famous Test ground for the first six of the reply.

Kent skipper David Fulton used four bowlers inside the opening 15 overs with two changing ends, but the visitors were unable to make the breakthrough they badly needed.