JOHN Crawley hit form as Lancashire grabbed a stranglehold in their second tour match in South Africa. The Red Rose captain hammered 91, following disappointments in his previous three innings, and Lancashire were able to declare, leaving Boland Academy with the virtually impossible task of scoring 381 to win.

The South Africans, for whom Mike Atherton and Gary Keedy are guesting, went into the final day today on 22-2.

Crawley was desperate for runs after scoring only 32 on the tour and he responded superbly, dominating the Boland attack after left-arm spinner Keedy had made a double breakthrough by sending back both openers Nathan Wood and Mark Chilton. Keedy finished with 3-78 from a 20-overs stint, encouraging figures for a player who will have to battle all the way this season to earn and keep a place in a spin attack also containing Chris Schofield, Gary Yates, Mike Watkinson and, of course, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Lancashire declared at 188-6, and new boy Mike Smethurst quickly plunged Boland into trouble with two wickets. Earlier Boland had slumped to 141 all out in their first innings, with only Atherton showing any resistance with a half century. Boland Academy v Lancs (at Stellenbosch). 1st innings - Lancs 333-7 dec (Wood 126, Schofield 100 no), Boland 141 all out (Atherton 50); 2nd inns - Lancs 188-6 (Crawley 91, Harvey 32), Boland 22-1 (Atherton 14 no).

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