LANCASHIRE cruised to a seven-wicket victory against Essex in the National League to stay in sight of the top of Division One.

An unbeaten partnership of 115 in 20 overs between Mark Chilton and Carl Hooper saw the Red Rose side to their target of 186 with nearly seven overs to spare.

Chilton's 58 was his best one-day innings for nearly four weeks, and he relished the chance to build an innings by batting at number three.

Hooper is the master of finishing a one-day innings and proved his class once again with his 50 from 62 balls.

The stand-in captain, for the injured Warren Hegg, expanded his stroke play as the target closed in, and played a trademark straight drive for six off Paul Grayson.

Coach Mike Watkinson was delighted with his team's performance: "It was a solid show all-round. The bowlers did well, the fielding was generally sharp and we had no panics in knocking the runs off."

Lancashire had restricted the Essex batting after taking three early wickets, and always had control of the innings despite the best efforts of Ronnie Irani.

The former Old Trafford player, who left ten years ago to get more first team cricket, batted throughout the Essex innings to reached an unbeaten 102 from 131 balls. But the Lancashire spinners, Keedy, Mongia and Hooper, sent down 27 overs between them and made it difficult for the visitors to increase the scoring rate.

Just four points now separate Glamorgan at the top of the table and Lancashire in third place.