WASIM Akram returned for Lancashire at Headingley today on a double mission - first, to improve on his county's poor recent Roses record and second, to start punching his weight in Lancashire's Championship bid.

Wasim, who was desperately disappointed to miss out on Tuesday's NatWest Trophy semi-final against Hampshire because of a foot injury, has also been frustrated in the Championship by a combination of injury and bad weather.

He has only taken 21 wickets so far - a long way off his pre-season target of 80.

But he said: 'I feel I have been bowling well - I just have not been taking wickets. Luckily the rest of the boys have been playing well, and the most important thing is that we have been winning."

After the Yorkshire game, Lancashire head up to Chester-le-Street where they face Durham next week. Lancashire needed a win to preserve their outside title chances by closing the 43-point gap on leaders Surrey. But Yorkshire are also in the running, 22 points further back but with two games in hand on Surrey and one on Lancashire, and with Surrey still to visit Headingley.

Lancashire welcomed back Ian Austin and Andy Flintoff and made a swift start, reaching 34-1 from five overs, Nathan Wood the casualty. Chris Schofield was away with England under-19s.

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