Lancashire suffered yet more Championship frustration at Old Trafford today. They had reduced Leicestershire to 83 for three when the rain which had washed out their previous two home games against Surrey and Glamorgan returned soon after lunch, with the teams taking an early tea at 3:40pm, and play finally being abandoned for the day at 5pm.

Leicestershire, who made one change to the team who drew with Somerset last week with Jon Dakin replacing Darren Stevens, won the toss and chose to bat.

But they slipped to 8-2 in the sixth over, with Trevor Ward having his off stump uprooted by a superb delivery from Peter Martin, and Iain Sutcliffe brilliantly caught by Mike Atherton at first slip off Glen Chapple.

Daniel Marsh responded positively, using his feet against Muttiah Muralitharan and striking four boundaries.

But Chapple, the leading Englishman in the first-class bowling averages at the start of play, switched to the Stretford End to have Marsh caught by Mark Chilton at square leg off a top-edged hook.

Darren Maddy joined Ben Smith to steer the visitors to 81 for three at lunch, but the skies were already filling in and it was no surprise when only two overs into the afternoon session rain stopped play.

Lancashire had named a full strength team as they aimed to build on Saturday's dramatic win at Northants, with Atherton, Joe Scuderi and Gary Keedy returning in place of Ryan Driver, Tim Roberts and Chris Schofield - and Andy Flintoff is fit to bowl for the first time since he injured his side in a Benson and Hedges Cup tie against Yorkshire on May 6th.

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