Lancashire: Flintoff shrugs off the praise (15 Jul 1998)

15 July 1998

Flintoff shrugs off the praise

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

ANDY Flintoff today shrugged off his best bowling performance for Lancashire and said: "I didn't bowl all that well."

The 20-year-old, who has been in sensational batting form this season, confirmed his all-round rating by taking three key Worcestershire wickets on the first day at Lytham.

It was a successful return "home" for the powerful youngster, who was born in Ribbleton but played his junior cricket with the nearby St Annes club.

After being brought on as Lancashire's fifth seamer by skipper Wasim Akram, he claimed the key wicket of another England contender, Graeme Hick, caught behind in the last over before lunch.

Within six overs he had Worcester's Aussie skipper Tom Moody caught behind, and David Leatherdale superbly taken by Neil Fairbrother at second slip.

And he should have had a fourth wicket, as he deceived former England under-19 team-mate Vikram Solanki with a slower ball only for Wasim to drop a simple chance at cover.

But Flintoff, who is still recovering from a serious back problem which has severely limited his bowling in the last three years, said: "That's not the best I have bowled this season. It was the sort of pitch where you just had to put the ball in the right place and I didn't do that consistently enough.

"But it's still pleasing to get a few wickets for a change." Just as encouraging for Lancashire, and possibly England, was the fact that he was able to bowl 12 overs in the day and still feel no reaction.

But Flintoff was right to rue Lancashire's failure to fully exploit the helpful conditions.

They missed a total of five chances, the most costly being Wasim's and a second let-off for Solanki at third slip off Ian Austin when he had made 61.

The talented Solanki went on to make 87, the crucial innings as Worcestershire recovered from 142-5 to 261-7. Peter Martin and Austin shared the remaining four wickets, with Austin also seeing three chances dropped off his bowling.

Worcester skipper Tom Moody felt that 250 would have been a good score on this pitch, so Lancashire knew they would have to bat well today.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)