Lancashire: Flintoff signs off in style (10 Sep 1998)

10 September 1998

Flintoff signs off in style

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Andy Flintoff signed off Lancashire's one-day campaign in real style.

Freddie's unbeaten 93 was the best in an AXA League floodlit match, and he lit up Trent Bridge after the weather had played havoc, the start being delayed by rain and then by a strong wind which prevented the floodlit pylons from being raised to the correct height.

Flintoff shrugged it all off to flay the Notts attack in an astonishing 56 balls performance which hauled Lancashire to 221-2 off just 26 overs.

It was his second man of the match display in three days, and clutching another magnum of champagne he joked: "I'm getting to like the taste."

Flintoff has not been picked for England's squad which goes to Bangladesh next month for the mini World Cup, simply because it was selected on the bizarre basis that the players all had to have limited overs international experience.

But he is a strong candidate for the real thing in England next year, along with Ian Austin, Peter Martin and Neil Fairbrother who are all going to Bangladesh.

Notts, who had bowled their overs so slowly that they were left only 24 to bat in, had no chance ad struggled for respectability at 169-4, giving Lancashire their 12th AXA League win of the season.

Wasim Akram was absent last night, but that had nothing to do with the allegations of match-fixing which are clouding his future. With the AXA title already sewn up, the Lancashire captain was taking a rest before the crucial championship clash with Notts tomorrow.

Lancashire's title rivals both fared well in the opening days of their penultimate championship games.

Surrey collected three batting points after dominating the first day of their game against Durham at Riverside and Hollioake led from the front, top-scoring with 67 in a total of 323.

Leicestershire also have three bonus points after reaching 301-6 against Essex.

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

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