Flintoff finds form while Redmond sparkles for Black Caps

Andrew Flintoff was the top scorer with an unbeaten 27 off 23 balls as Lancashire hammered their hosts Scotland by eight wickets in the North Division of the Friends Provident Trophy yesterday. The England all-rounder hit a six and four fours, and with 19 from Gareth Cross and 14 not out from Stuart Law, his side knocked off a target of 74 in 11.5 overs. The Scots were dismissed for 73 in 37 painful overs in Edinburgh.

Tom Smith led the bowlers with 3 for 14 and England's James Anderson took two wickets as Majid Haq top-scored with 23.

Elsewhere, new opener Aaron Redmond marked his first appearance for New Zealand with a solid 72 before their first tour match against the MCC was abandoned at Arundel.

Redmond and stand-in captain Jamie Haw shared a first-wicket stand of 91 in a total of 239 for 7. The MCC, chasing an adjusted 217 off 37 overs following six interruptions for rain, reached 44 for 2 off nine overs before the match was abandoned due to bad light.

Daryl Mitchell scored an undefeated 48 before Worcestershire's Friends Provident Trophy match against Somerset fell victim to the wet weather at New Road. The 24-year-old hit four fours off 70 balls before rain prevented him from registering a second successive South West Division half-century.

Mitchell's contribution helped lift his side's disappointing total to 154 for 8 off 39 overs before the game was abandoned.

Worcestershire, seeking their first Trophy win of the season, were again without paceman Simon Jones as he failed a pre-match fitness test on a neck problem which has ruled him out of his new side's last three matches.

The Indian Cricket Board has suspended spinner Harbhajan Singh pending today's disciplinary hearing into a slapping incident involving his compatriot Sri Sreesanth in an Indian Premier League game.

Harbhajan allegedly slapped the young fast bowler after Friday night's match. Television pictures showed Sreesanth in tears after his Mohali team beat Mumbai, who were captained by Harbhajan in the absence of the injured Sachin Tendulkar.