Flintoff fails in Lancashire loss

Totesport League D1, Lord's: Middlesex 210-9 beat Lancashire 141 by 69 runs

Scorecard

Flintoff looked in good nick before being deceived by Scott Styris

Andrew Flintoff's eagerly-awaited comeback after surgery resulted in a 23-ball innings of 17 as Lancashire lost to Middlesex by 69 runs.

Asked to bat first, Middlesex collapsed to 37-6 before Jamie Dalrymple batted brilliantly for 81 off 82 balls.

That led to a total of 210-9 in this Division One Totesport League match at Lord's and it proved far too challenging a target for Lancashire.

The wickets were shared around with Mark Chilton top-scoring with 37.

Flintoff, who only played as a batsman, hit three crisp boundaries in his innings as he came in at number five at a crucial point in the run chase.

But he then fell lbw to New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris on a day when conditions favoured the bowlers.

Lancashire manager Mike Watkinson is determined Flintoff should not be rushed back to full service before he has recovered fully from the heel operation he underwent 12 weeks ago.

He's bowling at 50% and could push beyond that Mike Watkinson

Flintoff might play as a batsman in Lancashire's next Frizzell County Championship away to Worcestershire, starting on Wednesday.

Watkinson said: "We'll look at the situation on Tuesday and take it from there, but if we have orders from on high not to play him then obviously we won't.

"We're monitoring him on a day-to-day basis and at the moment he's not bowling flat out.

"He's probably at 50% and could push it beyond that, but there's no need to do that at this stage."