Flintoff fails as Yorkshire win

Twenty20 Cup, Old Trafford:
Yorkshire 135-8 (20 overs) beat Lancashire 131-6 (20 overs)

Match scorecard

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Flintoff's stay at the crease lasted all of two minutes

Andrew Flintoff endured a miserable Lancashire return when he was dismissed for a golden duck in their four-run Twenty20 Cup loss to Yorkshire.

Batting at three, Flintoff was trapped lbw by Tim Bresnan as Lancashire chased a target of 136 at Old Trafford.

The England all-rounder, who has been out injured with a side strain, is still not fit to resume match bowling.

Bresnan (2-12) was the pick of the Tykes bowlers as they took their second win in three days over their rivals.

Flintoff had been sidelined since 6 May, an injury which ruled him out of England's Test and one-day series against New Zealand.

But having made 56 for Lancashire's second XI against Durham at Alderley Edge on Thursday and come through with no ill-effects, Flintoff was included for his first Twenty20 appearance of the year.

He took a superb diving catch on the deep mid-wicket boundary to dismiss the dangerous Jacques Rudolph for 23, a wicket which stalled Yorkshire's progress.

The Tykes - who stole a dramatic victory on Wednesday thanks to Darren Gough's heroics with the bat - were led by Gerard Brophy's 44 as they ended on 135-8 from their 20 overs.

Leg-spinner Steven Marshall was the pick of the Lancashire bowlers, taking 3-11 in three overs.

However, brilliant bowling from Bresnan accounted for Flintoff, who was trapped leg before to a ball which hit him on his knee rool.

It was the 30-year-old's third first ball dismissal of the season, his fourth duck in this current campaign.

Bresnan also accounted for Mal Loye (17), but a 68-run stand between Francois du Plessis (42) and Steven Croft (28) had given the home side hope.

Both men were dismissed in quick succession and although late hitting from Kyle Hogg made for a tense finish, a superb final over from Bresnan ensured Yorkshire secured the double over their rivals.