DAVID Byas admitted his relief after hitting his first century for Lancashire yesterday.

The former Yorkshire veteran made 101 on the first day of the Championship match against Warwickshire and said: "I have gone close in the last couple of games so I'm just pleased to have done it at Old Trafford."

Byas had made five half centuries for Lancashire, with his previous top score of 91 against Leicestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter final.

He played a key part in the last two Championship wins with 71 against Sussex in Hove and 81 against Somerset in Blackpool, but his previous four-day best for Lancashire came in the away game against Warwickshire with an unbeaten 83 at Edgbaston back in April - another match-winning innings.

But Byas's impact in his first season at Old Trafford was best summed up when his team-mates rushed out to the balcony to salute his performance.

"Everyone is absolutely delighted for him," said manager Mike Watkinson. "He's been great for us all season and coming closer to this all the time."

His innings steered Lancashire to a strong position after the first day of a game in which a win could take them up to second in the First Division table.

Warren Hegg won an important toss on another good Old Trafford pitch, and Mark Chilton and Alec Swann provided a solid start with an opening stand of 79 - although they rode their luck, as they were both dropped by Dougie

Brown at second slip in consecutive overs from the luckless Neil Carter.

Chilton's luck ran out when he was caught behind off Alan Richardson for 39, but Swann moved on to 62, in the process going past 1,000 runs in his first season with Lancashire.

Stuart Law and Neil Fairbrother went cheaply but Glen Chapple joined Byas to add 145 for the fifth wicket.

Chapple made 65 including three fours in an over off Carter, sweet revenge after the South African swept him for four off the last ball of the Benson and Hedges Cup semi final in June to deny Lancashire a trip to Lord's.