Match-winner Flintoff Promises More From His Bat

It may not have been Test quality but Andrew Flintoff got his much-needed batting practice - three sixes and three fours - and Lancashire wrapped up their third win of the season, cutting Nottinghamshire's First Division lead to a solitary point, well before England's selectors sat down to ponder the team for Headingley on Friday.

There was also a promise from the England all-rounder that hitting his way back to form is the route he has chosen after seven innings of his first-class comeback had brought him only 93 runs. "I can bat a bit," said Flintoff after he had finished the game with his sixth lofted boundary and more than two sessions to spare. "Going in today, chasing 160, you can go about it two ways. You can grind it out, but on that pitch I thought the best way was to attack. See the ball, hit it - that's the philosophy which stood me well a few years ago and one that I'm going back to now."

Yesterday Flintoff went through a sticky patch, much as he had done in the second innings in Hove 13 days ago when he made his first first-class fifty in 14 months. A pull and a drive were mistimed before the Hampshire bowling suffered - 39 coming off 23 balls.

Dimitri Mascarenhas, who had six wickets in the first innings, was lofted into the seats over long-on, Hampshire's South African new boy Rory Kleinveldt saw the ball vanish back over his head, and the off-spinner Greg Lamb was greeted with a six over midwicket. "It's nice to get through your first few balls and then start hitting a few in the middle of the bat," said Flintoff.

"We're on a bit of a roll - we did well against Sussex and we've played some disciplined cricket. Today I thought we'd just get on with it. We've played on two very placid pitches. The one today offered nothing and I feel sorry for Chris Tremlett with his pedigree. I wouldn't want to be bowling on these every week."

Lancashire started the day on 34, needing another 129. They lost the wickets of the openers Paul Horton and Lou Vincent, both to Mascarenhas, in adding 32 and Francois du Plessis with the score on 88. However, Flintoff and Stuart Law added 73 in eight overs and it was more or less job done when Law, the Lancashire captain, chipped Kleinveldt to midwicket.

John White, on the Hampshire public address system, thought so. Congratulations to Lancashire, winners by seven wickets," he said before a long pause. "I do beg your pardon." The following over, when Flintoff had hit the final boundary and Lancashire were home by six wickets, White completed the job, beginning: "I hate to repeat myself, but ..."

Harmison kept waiting

Durham's captain, Dale Benkenstein, expressed surprise and relief after England opted not to recall Steve Harmison to their squad for the second Test. "I'm sure he won't be here for much longer if they can't bowl sides out in three days," said the South African after another impressive performance by Harmison in the championship draw against Somerset at the Riverside. "He was outstanding all the way through the match, and he's desperate to play." Harmison added one wicket yesterday to the four he took in the first innings, consolidating his position as the First Division's leading wicket-taker with 35. Durham then slipped to eight for two after Somerset declared to set a target of 285 in a minimum of 52 overs, with Steffan Jones and Charl Willoughby each taking an early wicket. But after a third-wicket partnership of 95 between Benkenstein and Michael Di Venuto the draw was agreed with Durham on 113 for four and nine overs left. Both teams now head south, Somerset for a home game against Kent and Durham to face Surrey, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul will make his first appearance of the season. Andy Wilson