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Mark Chilton is leading the race to become the first Lancashire batsman to reach 1,000 first class runs this season.

The 22-year-old has scored 692 from 21 innings, putting him almost 200 ahead of nearest rivals John Crawley and Graham Lloyd. Not a bad effort in his first full season of county cricket.

``I'm really pleased to have done what I've done this year,'' said Chilton, who made his Lancashire debut two years ago but only graduated from Durham University last June.

``I've been involved all season and scored a few runs, and that's what I was aiming to do at the start of the year.''

Chilton has effectively leapfrogged Nathan Wood and Paddy McKeown to establish himself as Lancashire's regular opener. ``They asked me during the winter whether I was prepared to have a go at opening,'' he explained.

``It's something I hadn't done for two or three years, but I have thoroughly enjoyed doing it - especially the one day games I've played in, it's much better going in first because you have a bit more time to bat.''

In recent weeks that has meant forging an opening partnership with Mike Atherton, eight years his senior at Manchester Grammar School. ``It's been brilliant, he's a great man to bat with in the middle,'' Chilton added.

``He's obviously been in great nick and I'd like to think we could be a good partnership. We've done quite well in the games since he's come back.''

Chilton started the season superbly with an unbeaten century against Cambridge University, 87 against Sussex at Old Trafford and then his maiden Championship century against Northants - which he reckons was his best innings of the season.

That was followed by a slightly sticky patch of seven innings without a 50 but in recent weeks he has returned to more consistent form with half centuries in the first innings of the last three Championship games against Essex, Glamorgan and Hampshire.

He missed the National League game against Hampshire last Sunday with a slight hamstring strain but will definitely return in the Championship game at Derby starting on Wednesday. to maintain his ever-present record in first class cricket.

And what of the prospect of reaching the magic 1,000 in his first full season? ``It's something I keep my eye on and if I could do that and perhaps score one more century, I'd be happy.''

Chilton could even be an outside contender for a place on England's A tour of Bangladesh and New Zealand this winter.