Flintoff flourish sees Lancashire through

Yorkshire 152-9 Lancashire 154-5 Lancashire win by 5 wkts

Andrew Flintoff, the England Under-19 all-rounder, steered Lancashire to a five-wicket victory in a low scoring 40-over Roses match at Old Trafford.

Currently prevented from bowling by a mystery back injury, Flintoff showed why Lancashire are happy to play him just as a batsman with a 64-ball half-century, the only one of the match.

He came in with Lancashire struggling on 41 for 3 on a tricky pitch, with two wickets for Peter Hartley in an excellent spell and one for Matthew Hoggard, a 19-year-old seamer making his Yorkshire debut.

Flintoff linked up first with Graham Lloyd in a fourth-wicket stand of 39 and then steered Lancashire to the brink of victory alongside the South African Steve Elworthy with a partnership of 51 in 10 overs.

Michael Bevan was Yorkshire's top scorer in his first appearance of the season with an attractive 29, but after he was bowled by off-spinner Gary Yates, who took 2 for 22 from his eight overs, the visitors crumbled to 111 for 8 and were grateful for an unbeaten 22 from Hartley to inch them past 150.

Peter Martin, playing his first game since the World Cup, took 3 for 44 in his eight overs but Yates and Richard Green, who claimed 2 for 15 in six, were the pick of the Lancashire attack.