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Cricket

Flintoff continues comeback with half-century for Lancs

21/03/2008

Andrew Flintoff hit a half-century in Lancashire's defeat to arch rivals Yorkshire in the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge in Abu Dhabi.

The all-rounder continued his comeback after a fourth ankle operation with his highest score in ten months.

Flintoff, captaining the side in the absence of Stuart Law who was rested, brought up his 50 with a strong extra cover drive off spinner David Wainwright.

He was then bowled for 51 by Ajmal Shahzad as Lancashire were skittled out for 196 in 47 overs, falling 41 runs short of Yorkshire's total of 237.

The 30-year-old, who is targeting England's home series against New Zealand in May to make his international return, said he was pleased with how his ankle held up.

"It wasn't too taxing, and I am happy with the way things are - how the ankle is standing up to the rigours of bowling," Flintoff said.

"Everybody tells me I am at 70 per cent but I don't know - I might be at 72. I am certainly not hitting the crease as hard as I would like, but it feels good and easy.

"I was always confident that once I was fit that my bowling would be fine. It is still early days, and I am not going to get carried away.

"Hopefully we will be having this conversation in the middle of June when I have had 200 overs under my belt."

Flintoff, who bowled four overs, had earlier taken one wicket when Andrew Gale was brilliantly caught by a one-handed catch by Tom Smith at slip.