SO much for Lancashire's Championship chances resting on Muttiah Muralitharan.

Murali only took two wickets as Leicestershire were all out for 240 on the first day at Grace Road with Glen Chapple continuing his superb start to the season.

The 27-year-old paceman had played a key role in Lancashire's opening Championship success with six for 46 against Somerset at Taunton.

And yesterday he added another five for 26, including the last four Leicestershire wickets in a 45-ball burst which cost only 10 runs.

It means that he has a total of 12 wickets at an average of 10.7.

"I wanted to have another good season, because I've never really put good seasons back to back," Chapple said afterwards.

It was an impressive response after he had been dropped for two of Lancashire's Benson and Hedges Cup matches, although he was diplomatic about that yesterday, saying only "You always think it shouldn't be you".

Lancashire had not started well after Leicestershire won the toss and reached 95 for one, with Chapple admitting "We bowled badly with the new ball".

But he made the first breakthrough by having their skipper Vince Wells caught by Neil Fairbrother at second slip, and the rest of the morning session belonged to Lancashire with one wicket for Peter Martin and two for Muralitharan leaving Leicestershire on 96 for four.

Aussie all-rounder Daniel Marsh led their fightback with 71 off 96 balls but after Chapple sent back Stevens, the last four wickets tumbled for 14 with Mike Smethurst, who had already trapped Maddy lbw, getting Marsh the same way.

Mike Atherton and Mark Chilton today resumed an unbroken opening stand of 45.