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We're right back in it: Flintoff

31/07/2008

Andrew Flintoff admitted his two wickets late in the day against South Africa at Edgbaston today had brought England "right back" into the Test match.

South Africa were in a dominant position on 226/4 as Jacques Kallis (64) and Ashwell Prince (37 not out) looked to take the game away from England. But it was Flintoff who galvanised England with his bowling and kept them in the game.

The all-rounder thundered in and first smashed Kallis' off-stump and then had AB de Villiers caught by Ryan Sidebottom to reduce the Proteas to 256/6.

"It was an important hour for us," said Flintoff. "We scrapped all day and we needed wickets to get back into this match. We're right back in it now, we've just got to go hard again in the morning."

Flintoff had a few heated words with umpire Aleem Dar after he gave Kallis not out even though the ball from Flintoff had hit him on the toe and looked to be plum out lbw.

The England star could get into trouble for his reaction, but revealed he went to see Dar after the day's play to sort things out.

"Emotions were running quite high at that point when the appeal got turned down," Flintoff said. "You can chunter as much as you want but you have got to get on with it.

"I have been in to see Aleem and apologised, I shook his hand and we are friends again," added Flintoff, who took his 200th Test wicket with the dismissal of Neil McKenzie today.