Stuart Law struck his third century in as many days for Essex at Old Trafford - and again finished on the losing side.

The Queensland captain, who hit 116 and 123 without being dismissed in Essex's Championship defeat by Lancashire, added another 108 from 100 balls in a floodlit National League clash watched by a 6,775 crowd.

But in the 35th over of Essex's reply to a Lancashire total of 254 for six, Muttiah Muralitharan finally claimed Law's wicket, brilliantly caught by Graham Lloyd running in from deep mid-wicket.

After that Essex collapsed from 191 for five to 217 all out in the 42nd over, going down by 37 runs.

The game also saw the return of Nasser Hussain for the first time since breaking his thumb in the First Test against Pakistan at Lord's last month. Hussain hit 21 from 27 balls with four well-timed boundaries before being trapped lbw by Glen Chapple, and suffered no reaction to the thumb. He now plans to play for Essex in their three-day game against Australia which starts at Chelmsford on Friday.

Lancashire's highest total of the season had been built around a masterful century from Neil Fairbrother.

They had slipped to 53 for three, with Ronnie Irani firing out Chapple and Mike Atherton, before Fairbrother joined John Crawley to add 151 in 24 overs.

Crawley made 63, his first National League half-century of the season, but Fairbrother dominated the stand, reaching 50 from 51 balls and racing to 100 in only 34 more.

He finally holed out to long on off Irani, who ended with three for 51, after hitting 101 from 87 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.

Muralitharan and Chris Schofield were Lancashire's bowling stars under the floodlights. Murali ended with two for 34 from his nine overs, and Schofield picked up four for 41, having Ashley Cowan and Mark Ilott stumped by Warren Hegg.

The win takes Lancashire level with fourth-placed Hampshire in the Second Division table, with Essex staying bottom.

© CricInfo Ltd.