LANCASHIRE went into their final Benson and Hedges Cup qualifying game at Old Trafford today hoping for a miracle, but with Neil Fairbrother admitting: "We don't deserve to be in the quarter finals."

Both Lancashire and opponents Worcestershire have four points from four games and were relying on the Minor Counties to beat Yorkshire at Headingley to give them any chance.

But Fairbrother said: "I know that mathematically we still have a chance, but it needs a miracle. The truth is we have failed and after winning the Cup in the last two years it's difficult to take in.

"Really we have given it away through some pretty ordinary performances. I feel for our coach Dav Whatmore. He has put so much into it and the team are responding to him, but we should have done better.

"But we showed plenty of character in beating Warwickshire on the last ball and against Minor Counties when we faced a huge embarrassment. "The team spirit is still very good and the return of Wasim Akram has given everyone a lift."

Fairbrother picked up his ninth Gold Award in the Minor Counties game last Tuesday for a battling half century, leaving him just one award short of Barry Wood's Lancashire record of 10.

He remains one of the best one-day batsmen in the country, but does not expect the England selectors to recognise that when they select their squad for the Texaco Trophy games against Australia later this month.

Graham Lloyd and Peter Martin are more hopeful after starting the season in good form, and today was their last chance to impress.

Jason Gallian and Mike Atherton made a solid start, reaching 20 before Atherton fell for six.

Crawley and Gallian took the score to 100 before before Gallian was trapped lbw by Hick for 59. After 19.3 overs the score stood at 105-2.

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