BRILLIANT Lancashire Women took another giant step towards promotion to Division One of the ECB Women’s County Championship as they maintained their perfect record this season by beating Devon.

But while the eight-wicket win at a sun-drenched Brixham CC kept the Red Rose girls three points clear at the top of Division Two, they will have to win two play-off games in order to clinch promotion.

Jasmine Titmuss’s team are now three points clear of second-placed Somerset, who have played a game more, and favourites to claim the title.

But with Ireland still technically not out of the running, they need to win at least one of their last two matches – and then two play-off ties in order to win promotion.

If they win both remaining league games against Durham and Leigh on Sunday and against Ireland at Urmston 24 hours later, they will be guaranteed a home tie in the play-off against the runners-up.

And the winners of that game go on to play the loser of the play-off between the seventh and eighth sides in Division One.

If they win that, they will be promoted.

They did their cause no harm in Devon as Titmuss and led from the front with 5-22, while Kathryn Cross picked up three wickets and Read’s Jennifer Laycock chipped in with the other two as Devon were rolled out for just 69 in 27.5 overs.

Laura Marshall then got the reply off to a flying start as she hit six fours in a rapid 34 before departing with the score on 57, while fellow opener Emma Lamb went five runs later for 16.

But Laycock ensured there would be no wobble as she made 13 not out to see Lancashire across the line inside 17 overs as they claimed a fine win.

Both Sunday’s match at Leigh and Monday’s crucial showdown with Ireland at Urmston start at 1pm.