MAL Loye hit his highest score for Lancashire and passed 10,000 career runs, but their clash with Warwickshire at Stratford looked to be heading for a draw.

A flat pitch meant very hard work for the bowlers, making a positive result unlikely.

But batsmen still have to bat well and Loye certainly did that. Starting the third day on 125, he beat his previous best of 144, made on his Lancashire debut against Surrey last season.

He was eventually bowled by Mark Wagh for 184, the ball spinning out of the rough and giving some encouragement to Gary Keedy for today's play.

Dinesh Mongia, a Lancashire debutant in this match, looked set for a ton before he was trapped lbw by Ian Bell for 89. Having been signed in a rush from Minor Counties cricket, it was a fine effort from Mongia and he could have a positive effect on the side.

The Indian all-rounder had started very positively on the third morning and had just struck Brad Hogg for a flat six over long-off before he was dismissed.

South AFrican Dewald Pretorius mopped up the Lancashire tail this morning, and Warwickshire began their second innings trailing by nine runs.

Play was held up for over three hours by a massive hailstorm, which made the outfield white and caused everyone to rush for any cover they could find.

When the players made it out again, Lancashire quickly notched up their full set of bonus points and managed to edge in front of Warwickshire's 499 by six runs. Skipper Warren Hegg (54) hit his first half-century of the season before he was bowled by the last ball of the day.