LANCASHIRE will add the AXA League title to the NatWest Trophy if they avoid defeat against Hampshire at Old Trafford today.

Essex, well placed to win the Sunday crown before last week's thrashing by Yorkshire, virtually handed it to Lancashire yesterday when they succumbed meekly to a Nottinghamshire team who seemed to draw greater motivation from their outside chance of reaching the First Division of the next season's National League.

A season for Essex which peaked with their Benson and Hedges Cup win in July is ending with them anchored at the bottom of the championship and with them now spurning their chance of giving Lancashire a run for their AXA money.

Yesterday's capitulation, played out in front of a curiously flat and far from full Chelmsford, was indicative of the decline in their cricket during a hugely worrying few months for them.

Nottinghamshire did not have to play well to win. They struggled to gain momentum after being inserted on a slow pitch and found Peter Such, England's surprise winter recruit, particularly hard to dominate as they failed to reach 200. In the event, 192, inflated by Graeme Archer's unbeaten 50 which included two thumped sixes off Paul Grayson, proved more than adequate.

Essex batted without any spirit or purpose. Admittedly, Paul Franks bustled in effectively and looked every inch an international performer of the future while claiming three wickets. But rarely can he have met with such little resistance in his short and promising career.

Only Ronnie Irani appeared capable of presenting a challenge until he fell, lbw on the front foot to Andy Oram, having just taken 10 from two balls. With him, all too readily, went the Essex hopes.

Their total of 141 included an unbeaten stand of 52, their best of the innings and an Essex competition record for the last wicket. Compiled between Ashley Cowan and Such it came, however, only when the contest was effectively over.