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Lancs triumph with final ball six

category: Cricket

05.05.2008 00:26

Andrew Flintoff picked up two more wickets but Steven Croft was the hero as Lancashire beat holders Durham by five wickets in a rain-hit encounter.

In a match reduced to 23 overs per side by heavy morning rain, Flintoff bowled with hostility and accuracy to claim 2-13 from five as Durham made 151-7.

Kyle Hogg ousted Paul Collingwood first ball thanks to a fine catch at slip.

Flintoff made 11 from 10 balls but was caught in the deep, Croft hitting the final ball from Graham Onions for six.

Michael Di Venuto and captain Dale Benkenstein, who were both dropped early in their innings, revived Durham with a stand of 61 in eight overs.

Flintoff caught Benkenstein in the deep, then dislodged Di Venuto for 66, uprooting his middle stump with two overs remaining.

England fast bowler Steve Harmison dismissed opener Gareth Cross in the first over of Lancashire's reply, Collingwood taking a superb catch at backward point.

Mal Loye kept the home side ahead of the rate before he was smartly taken at the second attempt by Phil Mustard.

Flintoff came to the crease with 42 needed from five overs, but after one trademark drive down the ground to the boundary off Neil Killeen, he perished trying to hit Collingwood over the top.

Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf, who only arrived in the country on Friday, made an assured 32 before falling late on, leaving 12 needed from the final over.

Croft took a step down the wicket to seamer Onions and launched a high drive over extra cover to win the match in memorable fashion.

Original text is here

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