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Lightning target Harvey

The Lancashire Lightning's spin demons are plotting the downfall of Twenty20 cricket's most exciting run-maker at Old Trafford tonight.

The Lancashire Lightning's spin demons are plotting the downfall of Twenty20 cricket's most exciting run-maker at Old Trafford tonight.

Yorkshire's big-hitting Aussie Ian Harvey has smashed his way into the record books with one sensational innings after another since the introduction of the short game two years ago.

And despite last night's defeat for Yorkshire by Durham, Harvey comes to Manchester in sizzling form after scores of 74 (32 balls) against Notts and a breathtaking 109 (55 balls), including seven sixes, against Derbyshire.

Not that Lancashire need reminding about his exploits. The 33-year-old Victorian even out-blasted Andy Flintoff last season at Headingley when Yorkshire inflicted a crushing eight-wicket win.

Freddie thrilled the crowd that night with 85 (48 balls), only for Harvey to steal his thunder with an unbeaten 108 made up of two sixes and 16 fours.

But Harvey rarely, if ever, comes up against the type of attack which Lancashire are relying on to claim a place in the quarter-finals on July 18.

"Against Derbyshire on Wednesday we fielded four spinners, probably for the first time ever," said manager Mike Watkinson. "We only used three of them but the option was there."

Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his last game before linking up with the Sri Lanka squad, Gary Keedy, Andrew Crook and of course Brad Hodge are all in the shake-up again for tonight's Roses clash.

And when Murali has gone, leg-spinner Simon Marshall - "more a Kumble than a Warne type," says Watkinson - will be pushing for a place.

Watkinson added: "Our spin bowling has been very effective in this competition. We hit upon it last season, particularly when Carl Hooper bowled the last over of a close Totesport match at the Rose Bowl and helped us win by one run.

"Then Dinesh Mongia came in, so we had him, Gary Keedy and `Hoops' all bowling together, and giving very little away. This season we have stuck with it, and what we have noticed is that while the spinners get hit for as many boundaries as the seamers, they don't concede the ones and twos in between."

Murali, inevitably, has caused problems for batsmen and is hoping to go out on a winning note tonight having gained special dispensation from Sri Lanka's new coach Tom Moody to play an extra game for Lancashire.

But, while he leaves this weekend, Lancashire won't be able to bring in new overseas signing Marcus North for the three remaining Twenty20 group matches. Watkinson explained: "We signed Marcus as a replacement for Brad Hodge, not Murali, and Brad doesn't go just yet."

The search for another international star goes on ,although Lancashire are willing to stick with what they have unless they can find the right man. Aussie Andrew Symonds has been mooted although he might be promoted from the one-day side into the Ashes squad.

Lancashire expect a 14,000 full house tonight as they try to complete a Twenty20 double over Yorkshire.

Watkinson said: "We have played some good cricket over the last week or so, but the group situation is still very tight and in this type of cricket things can change so quickly."

Lancs' last Old Trafford clash is on Sunday against Durham, and they then face tough trips to Derby and Chester-le-Street to wrap up the group programme.

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