LANCASHIRE appeared to be coasting toward victory in Old Trafford despite a double wicket breakthrough from Andrew Symonds on his season’s debut.

Chasing Kent’s modest 203 all out, the hosts reached 117 for two after 26 overs following an opening stand worth 93 between the Lightning openers’ Mal Loye and Iain Sutcliffe.

The pair had 50 up on the board within 12 overs forcing Kent skipper David Fulton to use four bowlers inside the opening 15 overs with two changing ends in an abortive bid for a breakthrough.

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

The former Northamptonshire batsman also slog swept Symonds into the red brick pavilion at the famous Test ground for the first six of the reply to move on to 48 from 57 balls.

Symonds has his revenge in the 20th over however, taking two wickets in as many balls including the prized scalp of fellow Australian Stuart Law.

Loye, in trying to repeat the six hit, holed out to Ed Smith at mid-wicket then Law nibbled at a leg-cutter next ball to suffer his first golden duck for the Red Rose County.

Lancashire re-grouped through the powerfully built Sutcliffe and former Kent and West Indies hero Carl Hooper.

Sutcliffe looked untroubled throughout, while Symonds came into his own after initially struggling against the extreme pace of Mohammad Sami.