Lancashire Vs. Gloucestershire LVCC Day One.

Katich restores Lancs at Aigburth. 

Katich's efforts have given Lancs hope.

Lancashire owe a great deal to their Aussie international, as he steered the Red Rose back on course with a valiant knock worth 73 not out after they had stumbled to 26-3. 

Ably assisted by Steven Croft 43*, Lancashire added 85 runs for the fifth wicket before rain wiped out the majority of the evening session. Katich's fifty, coming from 69 balls gave the hosts new hope after their top-order batsmen flopped in the morning session after winning the toss.

Andrea Agathangelou, Stephen Moore and Karl Brown were all dismissed cheaply and Ashwell Prince's efforts only brought 29 runs, as Lancashire crawled to 90-4.

Gloucestershire's early dominance came courtesy of Craig Miles, removing Moore for just 4 - a score which threatens his place further than already thought. Graeme McCarter then dismissed Agathangelou (14) and Brown (1) in quick succession to put Lancashire on the ropes.

Ironically, the ropes were found rarely - that is of course until the fifth wicket, which saw the pair smash fifteen fours and a six.