Warwickshire v Lancashire: Steven Croft hits century in draw

Steven Croft's century was his seventh in first-class cricket

Steven Croft hit an unbeaten century as Lancashire gave Warwickshire a scare before their Division One match at Edgbaston ended in a draw.

At 103-4 and only 67 ahead the Red Rose county needed a sizeable innings from someone and Croft (104 not out) provided it, hitting 10 boundaries.

Jeetan Patel and Boyd Rankin each took three wickets before Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple declared at 322-7.

Croft claimed 3-25 as the hosts slumped to 86-5 but Lancashire ran out of time.

Chapple's declaration, after he weighed in with an unbeaten 34 off 29 balls, left the home side with a target of 287 to win off a minimum of 39 overs.

They began positively with two fours in the first from Varun Chopra, but lost William Porterfield for 20 when he was run out after setting off for a second run to mid-wicket and being sent back by his partner.

Croft turned one between bat and pad to bowl Chopra for 29 and also picked up the wickets of Laurie Evans and Sam Hain before Simon Kerrigan bowled Tim Ambrose.

With the spinners operating, Lancashire were able to get in 40 overs, but Ateeq Javid (20 not out) and Rikki Clarke prevented any further alarms.

The nine points earned by the visitors moved them above Durham into seventh place in Division One, but eight behind Warwickshire, who remained sixth.