The Lancashire run machine continued his wonderfully consistent season with a ton against Derbyshire, taking his tally for the summer to 1,495 - in the process passing Middlesex's Justin Langer as the top run scorer in the country.
And his seventh century of the year left him within touching distance of his previous best runs tally - 1,570 in 1994.
Beating that would be an amazing achievement considering the amount of cricket lost to the weather this summer.
And the weather is the biggest threat in this game to the victory Lancashire need to stay in touch with Surrey and Leicestershire.
After losing the whole of the first day to rain, Crawley led their efforts to make up for lost time when they launched their reply to a Derbyshire total of 281.
With Neil Fairbrother hitting 48 off 31 balls and Graham Lloyd continuing his improved late season form with a 53-ball half century, Lancashire raced to 214-2 in 41 overs.
It meant that 495 runs had been scored in the day, 112.1 overs. But the forecast for the last day tomorrow is very poor. ``I didn't think we bowled very well,'' said Crawley. However we have scored runs quickly and if we can carry on doing that, then bowl better in the second innings, we will give ourselves a chance.''
Of his own run scoring, he had little more to add. ``It would be nice to get another nine runs to get to 1,500,'' he said. ``It wasn't easy out there because of the light - a kind of smog, I've never known anything like it at Old Trafford.
``All credit to Graham Lloyd who even though he was the new batsman said he wanted to carry on going for the runs.''
Lancashire's bowlers had made a disastrous start, with Wasim Akram conceding 17 from the first over. Wasim returned to claim three wickets and there were also three for Peter Martin and two each for Glen Chapple an Ian Austin, but they should not have allowed Derbyshire to score 281 on a green, seaming pitch.
All credit, through, to Matthew Cassar, who battled to 70, and Phil DeFreitas, who smashed 69 from 88 balls then sent back Mike Atherton in his fourth over.
Richard Green and Darren Shadford linked up to set Lancashire's second team on the way to victory over Essex at Colchester. Green took 4-43 and Shadford 4-41 as Essex were skittled out for 128, Lancashire reaching 112-4 in reply.