Flintoff fires for Lancs

Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff delivered another impressive bowling display to help Lancashire complete a dramatic five-wicket victory over holders Durham in their rain-hit Friends Provident Trophy showdown.

Playing in only his fourth match of the season following a fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle during the winter, the 30-year-old all-rounder bowled with hostility and accuracy to help restrict Durham to 151 for seven in a match reduced to 23 overs a side by heavy morning rain.

His contribution, claiming 2-13 from his five overs, prevented Durham posting a far more competitive total and looked to have put Lancashire on course for victory.

But the loss of both Flintoff and Mohammad Yousuf in successive overs left Lancashire needing 12 off the final over and all-rounder Steven Croft having to hit a six off the final ball from Graham Onions to clinch victory.

Croft took one step down the wicket and launched a huge drive over extra cover into the member’s area in front of the pavilion to maintain Lancashire’s unbeaten record in the competition.

Lancashire could have been facing a far bigger total but for Flintoff’s economical efforts with opener Michael Di Venuto and captain Dale Benkenstein threatening to take them to a major score during a profitable 61-run stand off eight overs.

Both batsmen were dropped early in their innings, but Flintoff ensured neither batsman went on to play a match-winning innings and had a hand in both of their dismissals.

He took a key catch in the deep with four overs remaining to dismiss Benkenstein for 40 and then ended Di Venuto’s impressive innings of 66 off 58 balls when he uprooted his middle stump with two overs remaining.

Kyle Hogg had earlier given Lancashire an early advantage by claiming two wickets in his opening spell to dismiss England pair Phil Mustard and Paul Collingwood, who suffered a first ball duck after being brilliantly caught by Stuart Law diving at second slip.

Lancashire’s victory chase was built around a well-paced 58 off 54 balls from opener Mal Loye, which enabled them to keep ahead of the rate for the majority of their reply.

England fast bowler Steve Harmison dismissed opener Gareth Cross, superbly caught at backward point by Collingwood, in his first over but Lancashire never looked in serious danger of not reaching their target.

Stuart Law was caught by Harmison off the bowling of off-spinner Gareth Breese attempting to sweep.

Loye was joined by Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, making his Lancashire debut, and they shared a considerable partnership.

Loye, who hit nine fours in his innings, was superbly caught by Mustard at the second attempt to give Harmison his second wicket and bring Flintoff to the crease with 42 runs needed from five overs.

He struck a trademark drive down the ground for four off seamer Neil Killeen, but fell for just 11 off 10 balls when he attempted to hit fellow England team-mate over Collingwood over long-on and was caught in the deep.

Pakistan batsman Yousuf, who only arrived in the country on Friday, fell off the final ball of the last over after hitting 32 off 35 balls but Croft kept his composure to hit the winning runs in emphatic fashion.