Date-stamped : 11 Sep95 - 12:23 SUNLG: Lancashire v Kent, Old Trafford, 10 September 1995 Early collapse gives Kent sight of title - Brian Bearshaw Kent (128-3) bt Lancs (126) by 7 wkts KENT won this crucial game inside the opening hour. Lancashire`s three England batsmen, Jason Gallian, Mike Atherton and John Crawley, were dismissed in a nine-ball spell and not even their much-vaunted depth of batting could make a worthy total to test Kent. So Kent go into next Sunday`s final match needing to beat Warwickshire, who are four points behind them, to be absolutely certain of winning the title for the fourth time, and the first since 1976. Even a wash-out would suit them because they have a vastly supe- rior run rate to the two teams who could catch them, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. But, if Kent were to lose, Worcestershire, two points adrift, could snatch the title by beating Glamorgan. Gallian and Atherton had given the Lancashire innings a vigorous start with 45 runs by the 13th over. But Alan Igglesden, who bowled his eight overs straight through for two for 23, took both their wickets in his seventh over. Gallian, driving assertively, edged to wicketkeeper Steve Marsh, Atherton mishooked high to short mid-on and was well on his way to the dressing room when Mark Benson took the catch. Dean Headley claimed the next two wickets, both with the help of Marsh, to remove Crawley and Graham Lloyd, and at 60 for four, a graveyard hush closed like a mist over the crowd of 7,174. Old heads were needed and the two oldest in the team, Neil Fair- brother and Mike Watkinson, got the score moving again with a partnership of 40 in seven overs. But once they were separated, with Watkinson providing Marsh with his fourth catch, Lancashire quickly folded. Six wickets fell for 26 runs in 10 overs with the home side being bowled out with three overs left. Matthew Fleming took the wickets of Watkinson and Warren Hegg in successive overs and Marsh took his fifth catch when Fairbrother looked cramped against a rising ball from Mark Ealham. Gary Yates was unlucky to be run out backing up when Fleming diverted a fierce return drive from Ian Austin on to the stumps. Kent started hesitantly. Trevor Ward was beautifully bowled by Peter Martin but Benson threw away his wicket, wrecklessly going for a second run and being beaten by Martin`s throw. Graham Cowdrey and Aravinda de Silva restored calm for Kent though both had their moments of luck. De Silva came within a whisker of being run out and Cowdrey was dropped on the cover boundary with the total 68. A partnership of 76 ended when Cowdrey targeted the same fielder, Lloyd, but De Silva, who leaves England tomorrow to join Sri Lan- ka on their tour of Pakistan, steered them home with more than eight overs to go. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)