Flintoff makes bowling return

Andrew Flntoff claimed two early wickets on his return to bowling duties © Getty Images

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Andrew Flintoff took a couple of wickets on his return to bowling after a six-month absence in Lancashire’s Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge victory over Sussex.

Flintoff sent down two spells at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, returning late in the innings after a double success in his opening three-over burst to finish with figures of 5-1-9-2 as Lancashire won by 109 runs.

It was the first time England all-rounder Flintoff has bowled in a competitive match since the defeat by India in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship at Durban on September 19 last year.

Operating at impressive pace, the 30-year-old was introduced for the ninth over of the innings with county champions Sussex 18 for two in pursuit of 247.

Their innings was soon in disarray, however, as Flintoff struck twice in the space of four balls in his second over.

Opener Chris Nash was trapped leg before, having survived a huge appeal after the previous delivery, and Ben Brown was then bowled aiming to leg.

Sussex captain Chris Adams struck 49 © Getty Images

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Flintoff, who underwent a fourth ankle operation in the autumn, then returned for the 33rd over of the innings with Sussex floundering on 117 for eight.

Earlier, he fell for only 15 as Lancashire posted 246 in their third Pro ARCH one-day victory in a week.

Batting at number five, he got off the mark with a straight six off Luke Wright, from a free hit, and then drove the next two balls down the ground for four.

But he succumbed when he charged left-arm spinner Tom Smith, was beaten by the turn and stumped by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.

Smith, 20, was particularly impressive, also snaring Lancashire captain Stuart Law, caught at cover, on his way to a three-wicket haul.

Although none of the Lancashire top order capitalised on decent starts - Law, Mal Loye and Mark Chilton all passed 30 - it was still a competitive total to defend on a used pitch.

And when Luke Wright was harshly adjudged to have been run out by Loye early in the reply, Sussex were struggling on one for two.

Sussex captain Chris Adams ensured some respectability with 49 before being bowled by Sajid Mahmood, the penultimate dismissal of a match delayed by 15 minutes after Lancashire’s coach broke down on the journey from their Dubai base.