LANCASHIRE’S hopes of a first championship title in more than half a century did not look unrealistic after they dominated the champions for a third day in succession. In losing eight wickets in the afternoon session, Surrey were obliged to follow on for the first time since 1998. While they batted very poorly and without application on what was still an excellent pitch, James Anderson bowled with rhythm, heart and aggression to take his fourth five-wicket haul in only his twelfth appearance in the Frizzell County Championship.

Whether Lancashire will enjoy the benefit of Anderson’s services much longer is doubtful. The watching David Morgan, chairman of the ECB, gave the strongest possible hint that the bowler will soon be offered a central contract. Nothing that happened in the first two hours presaged what was to follow. Beginning their reply to Lancashire’s imposing 599 at the start of play, Surrey had lost Jon Batty to a yorker by Anderson in the ninth over before Ian Ward and Mark Ramprakash added a brisk 71 with languid ease.

Anderson returned for a second spell, however, and with his sixth ball lured Ward into a waft outside off stump. Warren Hegg took an excellent diving catch in front of a grateful Mark Chilton, at first slip, who had dropped Ward on 48. It was the only miss of what was an outstanding fielding display by Lancashire.

Nor can Ramprakash have been happy with the loose slash that cost him his wicket shortly afterwards. Quite possibly, he was surprised by the little bit of extra bounce that Anderson obtained. His deceptive pace certainly undid Graham Thorpe who, having punched and clipped the two previous balls for four, was late on a bouncer that he top- edged to long leg. It was good bowling but, with two men back for the shot, a questionable piece of batsmanship.

Faulty judgment had also proved costly for Ally Brown, who left a ball that was too close to off stump. Very little has deviated off the seam in this match, but all credit to Anderson for getting that one to cut back, thereby winning himself a leg-before decision. To have dismissed three England Test players, as well as Brown, who averages nearly 44 in first-class cricket, in one seven-over spell on this excellent pitch was a notable effort.

Anderson has now taken 51 championship victims at an average of only 19, boasting a fabulous strike-rate of one victim every 33 balls.

Adam Hollioake and Rikki Clarke counter-attacked audaciously, putting on 64 in 12 overs. Clarke pulled Anderson for six, drove Glen Chapple regally down the ground and hit Chris Schofield for three fours in four balls. Hollioake’s 43-ball 42 included nine fours, but in attempting to pull Chapple, he gloved him to first slip, where Andy Flintoff took a brilliant one-handed catch.

Schofield missed Lancashire’s pre-season tour of South Africa after falling down some stairs two days beforehand. Happily, his twisted ankle mended quicker than expected and he began what is an important season for him, after a disappointing 2002, by taking three useful wickets, all caught at extra cover. He had Alex Tudor superbly taken by Chilton after throwing one up; in the same over, Clarke was held off a leading edge when one held its line; not long afterwards, Saqlain Mushtaq skyed an attempted drive.

Following on, Surrey handed their opponents a quick wicket when Batty slapped Chapple’s first ball to gully. Ward, who had looked in such good form in the morning, retorted with a run-a-ball unbeaten 40, but Lancashire struck a significant blow before bad light descended when Flintoff found Ramprakash’s edge, Hegg taking another terrific diving catch.