Stuart Law has scored 176 runs without being dismissed in Essex's Cricinfo Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford - but still looks like ending on the losing side.

The brilliant Queenslander was left high and dry on 116 as Essex were all out for 226 in their first innings, with Muttiah Muralitharan claiming six for 53 from 48 overs for Lancashire.

It was a similar story when the visitors followed on 205 runs behind, with Law unbeaten on 60 at the close of the third day but Essex still needing 45 runs to avoid an innings defeat at 160 for four.

Murali picked up his seventh wicket of the match by having Ronnie Irani caught off bat and pad but Glen Chapple did most of the damage with a spell of three for two in 17 balls after Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton had shared an opening stand of 81.

To add to the drama Tony Brown, one of the England and Wales Cricket Board's pitch liaison officers, was summoned to Old Trafford by the umpires Allan Jones and Nigel Cowley following Essex's complaints that the match was being played on the pitch used for last week's one-day international, but he cleared Lancashire of any punishment.

Law, who had resumed at the start of the day on 47 in Essex's first innings, reached his second century of the season from 286 balls with 14 fours. But no one could stay with him long enough against the wiles of Muralitharan, who had Barry Hyam and Ricky Anderson caught by Neil Fairbrother at slip, and Ashley Cowan taken by Gary Keedy at deep backward square.

After lunch the Sri Lankan bowled Michael Davies before Chapple fired out Peter Such in his first over with the second new ball.

Law's second 50 of the day came from 49 balls with eight fours and a hooked six off Chapple. But amazingly, it might not be enough.

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