A JAMES Faulkner hat-trick helped Lancashire enjoy an excellent weather-affected opening day as they bowled Leicestershire out for 207 at Emirates Old Trafford yesterday.

The 25-year-old Australian became the 29th Red Rose player to achieve the feat during the latter stages of the afternoon as the Division Two leaders bid for their sixth win from nine LV= County Championship matches.

Faulkner is the third Tasmania player amongst that list, with compatriot Ted McDonald taking the last of his three for the county in 1930 and Jack Simmons taking one in 1977.

Former Lancashire chairman Simmons played 19 first-class matches for the state side between 1972 and 1979.

Faulkner had Ben Raine caught at point with the last ball of his 12th over, the 43rd of the innings, and Jigar Naik and Charlie Shreck lbw with the first two balls of his next to finish with 3-53 from 15 overs.

Forty four overs were lost due to weather – mainly bad light – and Lancashire could not start their reply.

Kyle Jarvis also claimed three wickets, with his third, that of Atif Sheikh caught behind by Alex Davies to wrap up the innings, his 50th Championship wicket of the season.

But it was Tom Bailey who led the way with 4-69 from 20 overs, including three of five to fall in the opening session after the visitors elected to bat and were reduced to 78-5 in the 18th over.

Ex-Red Rose batsman Andrea Agathangelou impressed for Leicestershire with a composed 54 off 66 balls.

Agathangelou was released at the end of last season following four years with Lancashire. He played 21 first-class matches and scored two fifties and one hundred.

But this was his first fifty at Emirates Old Trafford.

Agathangelou, who signed on at Grace Road last month, shared 87 in 21 overs for the sixth wicket with Raine either side of lunch before becoming Bailey’s fourth wicket when he edged behind to leave the score at 165-6 in the 38th.

Play is starting 90 minutes later each day in a bid to attract more spectators to attend post work for the evening session. It was just unfortunate that 42 of the 44 overs lost were because of bad light.

Meanwhile, Steven Croft’s career best 94 not out helped Lancashire secure a third NatWest T20 Blast over Derbyshire on Friday as they comfortably defended 201-3.