Flintoff shines for Lancashire

Andrew Flintoff batted for more than an hour in Lancashire's pre-season victory over Essex

Andrew Flintoff continued his recovery from injury by impressing with the bat in Lancashire’s win over Essex on their pre-season trip to Sharjah.

The England all-rounder, who underwent a fourth ankle operation last October, made 39 off 51 balls, hitting four fours in his 65-minute innings.

Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson, whose side triumphed by 63 runs in the Pro ARCH Series encounter, was encouraged by Flintoff’s return as a specialist batsman.

“He looked balanced at the crease and he was in control of his innings. We were pleased with that,” Watkinson said.

“He would have been quite happy with that as a starting point given that he hasn’t done a lot of match batting in recent times.

“It was just a pity that he wasn’t around in the last 10 overs when he could have opened his shoulders a little bit.”

Flintoff looked particularly strong straight down the ground and hit two fours back past the bowler before he was bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate in the 41st over.

He is expected to step up his rehabilitation by bowling in a match for the first time since September when Lancashire face Sussex on Wednesday or Yorkshire on Friday in Abu Dhabi.

Flintoff has been bowling in the nets since Lancashire's arrival in the United Arab Emirates last Tuesday and also bowled after the match off a full run-up.

“Bowling here was just part of his rehab programme with a view to bowling him at some point during the next two matches,” Watkinson added.

Iain Sutcliffe and Luke Sutton hit 54 and 51 respectively as Lancashire, who won the toss and elected to bat, posted 255 for nine in the warm-up fixture. James Middlebrook took 3-30, ten Doeschate 2-32 and Ravi Bopara 2-48 for Essex.

They slipped from 57 without loss to 58 for three thanks to three wickets in eight balls for Kyle Hogg, who finished with 4-29, and Simon Marshall, who returned figures of 3-32.

Dutchman ten Doeschate top scored for Essex with 33 as they were bowled out for 192.