Flintoff's all-round skill too much for Hampshire

Hampshire's hopes of promotion to the Norwich Union League suffered a setback when they lost to an Andrew Flintoff inspired Lancashire at the Rose Bowl.

Flintoff followed his aggressive 78 with a tight bowling performance which cost him only 32 from his nine overs. Chasing a target of 213 to win, Hampshire were all out for 169 in 41 overs, giving Lancashire victory by 43 runs.

Lancashire recovered from losing openers Mark Chilton and Glen Chapple with only 12 on the board and for that they can thank Flintoff and John Crawley who put on 151 for the third wicket in only 28 overs.

Flintoff was at his most belligerent with a six and nine fours while the more cautious Crawley proved just as valuable with an unbeaten 84. Flintoff was caught on the boundary going for another big hit but Crawley and Neil Fairbrother added a valuable 34 as Hampshire struggled to contain the Lancashire revival.

Chris Tremlett finished as the most successful of the bowlers with three for 45 but Hampshire were left with a daunting task on a pitch of variable bounce.

So it proved as Jason Laney and Derek Kenway were out to successive deliveries from Chapple. Robin Smith and Neil Johnson briefly raised Hampshire's expectations in a stand of 71 for the third wicket but from the moment Smith was superbly run out by Chilton's superb throw, Hampshire were a spent force.

From 138 for four Hampshire slumped to 169 all out, losing their last six batsmen in as many overs for 31. Tremlett and Alan Mullally were run out and others perished to rash shots as Lancashire went on to record only their fourth win of the season, Chapple finishing with three for 19.