CRICKET: Cork shines as Lancs play out dull draw.

Byline: PHIL BENSON

DOMINIC CORK and Gerard Brophy helped themselves to half-centuries as Lancashire's Frizzell County Championship Division One match against Northamptonshire ended in a dull draw.

Cork made 74,his highest score for more than a year and his maiden first class 50 for Lancashire. But they lost their last three wickets in three overs and were all out for 284,16 runs short of a third batting bonus point.

Northants replied with 146- 4 in their second innings before the captains agreed on a draw,Brophy top scoring with 67.

The South African put on 47 for the first wicket with Tim Roberts before the former Lancashire man was caught at slip by Cork off Gary Keedy.

The former England all rounder added a second sharp slip catch to send back Martin van Jaarsveld and give 19-year-old seamer Oliver Newby his first championship wicket.

Newby, who had bowled well without luck in the first innings,picked up a second when Usman Afzaal's hook flew to John Wood at long-leg.

But it was all academic after the captains had failed to agree on a Lancashire run chase and give any meaning to the last day of this rain-affectedmatch.

Northants at least took 11 points but they stay bottom of the first division while Lancashire's nine points leaves them in fifth.

But Northants will be without their Welsh pace man Steffan Jones for at least six weeks after he suffered a double fracture of the left foot in the Lancashire innings.