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Flintoff out after breezy cameo

category: Cricket

18.04.2008 22:54

Andrew Flintoff made only 23 as Lancashire closed 146 short of their follow-on target at 241-6 on a third day reduced to 55 overs by bad light.

In his first innings at The Oval since the 2005 Ashes, Flintoff hit four fours but his 26th ball was a Saqlain Mushtaq doosra which he edged low to slip.

Stuart Law and Brad Hodge had earlier shared 92 either side of lunch, Hodge firing Saqlain over mid-wicket for six.

Paul Horton reached fifty before Lancashire lost several quick wickets.

Nightwatchman Gary Keedy lost his off-stump to bustling young paceman Chris Jordan and Mal Loye was run-out by a direct hit from former Lancashire spinner Chris Schofield, swooping in as a substitute from the covers.

Skipper Law looked in useful touch before he mis-timed a drive at West Indian left-armer Pedro Collins and Mark Ramprakash took a tumbling catch at cover.

Flintoff began in positive fashion and struck Jordan for three consecutive boundaries but spin again proved his undoing as he tried to turn to leg, Saqlain's first wicket since returning to Surrey after a season with Sussex.

Moments later Lancashire were offered the light and were quick to accept it, bringing a close to play for the day.

Collins, wrapped up in several layers, admitted the conditions were rather different from his native Barbados.

"Today was pretty nippy," he said.

"Your eyes are watering, your nose is running and your hands are freezing.

"But I am here to do a job so you have to tough it out and concentrate. Even some of the guys who play here all the time were complaining it was too cold."

Original text is here

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