category: Cricket
29.04.2008 12:52
Andrew Flintoff hit an unbeaten 27 off 23 balls as Lancashire beat Scotland by eight wickets in the Friends Provident Trophy in Edinburgh.
The England all-rounder hit a six and four fours as the visitors reached their target of 74 in just 11.5 overs.
Tom Smith (3-14) and James Anderson (2-19) helped dismiss the hosts for 73 as Majid Haq top-scored with 23.
Dewald Nel removed Mal Loye and Gareth Cross to return 2-33 but Flintoff and Stuart Law guided Lancashire home.
It was clinical revenge for Lancs after last season's shock defeat by the Scots at Old Trafford.
The tone was set when Scotland's new Australian recruit Ed Cowan's stumps were shattered by a fast and swinging delivery from Anderson to fall for a duck.
Skipper Ryan Watson, Colin Smith and Neil McCallum edged behind, while Fraser Watts and Gavin Hamilton were the victims of reckless run-outs to leave the Saltires 24-6.
Though the final total represented a recovery, the target was never likely to trouble the Lightning.
Flintoff delivered the final blow with a huge six off Nel, leaving Scotland coach Peter Steindl demanding a vast improvement.
"We have to bounce back from this," he said.
"In sport you'll get results like this now and again. The key is how we bounce back in the next game."
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