ASHWELL Prince and Steven Croft lifted Lancashire after their disastrous start to the County Championship season today.

The pair shared a fifth wicket stand of 133 as they rescued Lancashire from their early shock.

They were reduced to 14-4 in a shocking start to a season of much hope and expectation before the pair came together.

The Red Rose suffered a disastrous collapse in the first 30 minutes of the new season after losing the toss and being put into bat.

That spell saw opener Tom Smith sent back by Chris Woakes with just the third ball of the season.

Woakes also removed Paul Horton for two and new signing Stephen Moore for six as Lancashire slipped to 9-3 to astonishment.

Mark Chilton could only manage three before Neil Carter struck to reduce the Red Rose to 14-4.

But South African star Prince and Croft set about repairing the damage and by lunch the score was 84-4 from 31 overs with Prince unbeaten on 31 and Croft impressing on 39 not out.

He eventually fell for 64 (11 fours), while Prince made 82 (eight fours, one six) as Lancashire fell to 168-6.

But they got beyond the 200 mark thanks to skipper Glen Chapple, who hit an unbeaten 54.

As Warwickshire replied, James Anderson knocked over Varun Chopra for a single and had several other big shouts in a fiery spell on his return to action.