BOB SIMPSON blasted Lancashire's all-star batting line-up after they flopped again at Leicester yesterday.

Lancashire's bowlers did a solid job to restrict Leicestershire to 193 for seven in their 50 overs - exactly the same total as Durham scored in Lancashire's opening Benson and Hedges Cup game at Liverpool on Tuesday.

This time the target was reduced to 118 from 21 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method because of rain.

But Lancashire collapsed miserably to 90 all out with only Neil Fairbrother and Warren Hegg managing double figures.

"The target was such that all you had to do was push it around and get a couple of boundaries, and we should have been capable of doing that," said Simpson.

"We've been worried about our batting for some time but you would think with four Test players you could reach a target like that," added Simpson.

Lancashire could still reach the quarter finals if they win their remaining three group games but they may now be forced to think the unthinkable - dropping one of their stars.

Ryan Driver, Mark Chilton and Tim Roberts all had a chance to stake their claim for promotion with the second team in Blackpool today, after Gary Keedy picked up three for 33 in 25 overs to reduce Leicestershire to 252 for eight declared on the first day of the seconds' opening championship match.