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Flintoff fired up

Lancs (208) bt Leics (156) by 52 runs>

Andrew Flintoff returned to the county scene yesterday after his disappointing World Cup performances to be a central figure in Lancashire's second victory at 45 overs this season.

The previous win came last month at Chelmsford when Flintoff hit a memorable 143 and took three wickets. This time the all-rounder, who had a bit part in England's five group games, attempted to match that feat by hitting 29 off 16 balls, fired by 17 off the first over from Dominic Williamson.

Flintoff's fireworks came to an end when Williamson swopped ends and the Lancastrian's mis-timed drive was well caught by Ben Smith running in from the cover boundary.

More significantly for Flintoff's future as an inter- national one-day player, he bowled his nine overs in one, accurate spell for 34 runs. Though he suffered the frustration of three dropped catches - one stinging chance causing the departure of captain John Crawley for treatment to a bruised thumb - he kept his line to snare Vince Wells (22) and Smith for 47.

When Flintoff finished bowling he calmly pocketed Chris Lewis's sweep on the leg side which marked the decline of a Leicestershire side led by another returning England man in Wells, who had an even more frustrating month as he was consigned to carrying the drinks.

Once Lewis departed with Leicestershire still needing 92 off 13 overs they were put in a spin by Gary Yates (three for 36) and Mike Watkinson (three for 25) to be all out for 156 in the 42nd over.

For some, a chilly afternoon was, perhaps, enlivened by the appearance of a streaker midway through the home innings. He was allowed the freedom of Grace Road until a group of security guards charged, unnecessarily, with keeping a modest crowd of 1,500 or so off the square at tea, were triggered into belated action.