SOURAV Ganguly scored his third one-day century of the season for Lancashire to set up an exciting 10-run victory over Somerset at Old Trafford last night.

The Indian left-hander hit 102 out of a total of 236 for four, easily Lightning's best of the season.

But it came too late to save them from relegation to the Second Division, showing instead what might have been.

And the ultimate irony for Lancashire came as they handed the National League title they have won for the last two seasons to Gloucestershire, with Somerset's defeat meaning they cannot catch their West Country rivals.

Lancashire were without England pair Andy Flintoff and Mike Atherton, as well as the injured Peter Martin and skipper John Crawley, who is due to have an appendix operation today and will be out for the rest of the season.

But Ganguly linked up with Mark Chilton and Neil Fairbrother to provide a commanding total, then Chris Schofield starred with two wickets and a run out as Somerset fell just short.

Ganguly has shown why he is rated second only to Michael Bevan as a one-day batsman by hitting 532 runs in the National League at an average of almost 60, as well as 272 runs in four innings in the NatWest Trophy.

He reached his 50 from 85 balls and moved to three figures from 51 more with a total of eight boundaries before he was out in the last over of Lancashire's innings.

Chilton scored 35 in an opening stand of 82, and although the experiment of playing second team wicket keeper Jamie Haynes at number three did not pay off, Fairbrother then came in to provide yet another one-day masterclass.

He scored 62 from 56 balls with six fours and two sixes, both over wide long-on, in a third wicket stand of 125 in 19 overs with Ganguly.

Former England opener Mark Lathwell gave Somerset's reply a good start with 53, and Cox was all class in reaching a 98-ball century with only five boundaries, including a six off Schofield.

But Ian Austin applied the pressure in the 43rd over and Cox was run out by a direct hit by Glen Chapple, giving a small crowd a Lancashire win to cheer -- even if it was too little, too late.