LANCASHIRE gave their LV= County Championship Division Two promotion hopes a huge boost as they claimed victory over Glamorgan by an innings and 157 runs at Colwyn Bay.

Although 21 overs were lost to rain and no play was possible before lunch on the final day, Lancashire still had 53 overs to spare as they eased to a convincing victory.

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After reaching 181-5 Glamorgan then capitulated, losing their last five wickets for just 12 runs in 53 balls.

Lancashire’s victory, their seventh in 12 championship games this season, takes them 32 points ahead of Surrey in second place, although the southern county have a game in hand, but Lancashire are 68 points ahead of Glamorgan in third.

Lancashire’s next four-day game is also against Glamorgan at Old Trafford next month and a favourable result there could ensure they return to Division One at the first attempt.

Resuming on 146-5, Chris Cooke and Andrew Salter resisted for almost an hour before James Faulkner made the initial breakthrough.

The Australian left-arm seamer had Cooke, who made 56, caught by Paul Horton at second slip.

Faulkner was then taken off as the light deteriorated but, without any addition to the score, Arron Lilley trapped Craig Meschede with his second ball and two balls later bowled Graham Wagg to record a double-wicket maiden.

Lilley, who took six wickets in the game, would have impressed the England lead spin-bowling coach Peter Such who had travelled to north Wales to watch the promising 24-year-old off-spinner.

Salter (34) was the next to go when he offered no shot to Simon Kerrigan and the innings ended when Michael Hogan skied Kerrigan to cover.

Lancashire coach Ashley Giles was delighted with the performance.

“We spoke of the importance of the game last week and this will now give us breathing space at the top of the table which is very important,” he said.

“This has made a big statement and we want to repeat this performance in our next game.”