LANCASHIRE’S hopes of claiming the LV= County Championship’s Division Two title are fading rapidly.

Leaders Surrey are dominating their clash with Northamptonshire at the Oval, and a win tomorrow would render second-placed Lancashire’s result against Essex at Chelmsford irrelevant.

And given Essex’s strong first-innings' display in reaching 394, coupled with evening rain today, even a Red Rose win looks a long shot.

Should Northants, forced to follow-on in reply to 410 at the Oval, hold on for a draw, Lancashire would need to claim 22 points in a win to take the title.

That means, during tomorrow’s final day of the season, they will first of all need to reach 300 in their first innings from 131-2 before winning the match.

The only hope of the latter is by virtue of a contrived run chase.

Lancashire were at least boosted today by two performances of note from a pair of England internationals, most notably Jimmy Anderson’s county best figures of 7-77.

Anderson claimed all three wickets this morning as Essex advanced from 328-7 to also record the second best figures of his first-class career ahead of next month’s England Test series against Pakistan in the UAE.

He had James Foster caught at second slip, Graham Napier lbw and Jamie Porter bowled.

Boltonian opening batsman Haseeb Hameed then continued his impressive start to life as a first-team cricketer with 63 in Lancashire’s reply.

Hameed celebrated today’s call-up by England Under-19s for their pre-Christmas tour of Sri Lanka with 10 fours in 126 balls before edging Jesse Ryder to Alastair Cook at first slip just before tea.

The 18-year-old shared 66 for the first wicket with fellow Boltonian Karl Brown, who made 39 either side of lunch, before adding 56 for the second with Luis Reece through the afternoon.

When Hameed, who hit 91 against Surrey last week, fell, it left Lancashire at 122-2 in the 46th over shortly before tea.

Unfortunately, there was no play beyond tea due to bad light and then rain.

Reece will resume tomorrow on 25 with Ashwell Prince continuing his final innings before retirement on two.

Meanwhile, former Lancashire left-arm spinner Gary Keedy, a Championship winner in 2011 but now with Nottinghamshire, has announced his retirement from the game.

Fast bowler Toby Lester has also signed his first two-year professional contract with Lancashire, while Luke Procter has extended his deal for a further year.