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Abu Dhabi: Yorkshire spoilt a perfect start to the summer for Andrew Flintoff's Lancashire with a 41-run victory which opens up the Arch Trophy Arabian Cricket league.
Lancashire had won their first four matches and were looking to wrap up the title with a win over traditional rivals Yorkshire who in turn got their summer off to the perfect start with a smart win.
Despite battling half centuries by Flintoff and Glenn Chapple, the Lancs could not chase Yorkshire's 237 and fell short by 41 runs.
Earlier, batting first, Yorkshire were helped by some useful knocks by skipper Anthony McGrath (41), wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy (36), Andrew Gale (32) and Craig White (29).
Simon Marshall put the brakes with his four-wicket haul as Yorkshire could not consolidate their fine start and lost wickets easily during the slog overs.
Impressive
A few hundred supporters of the two county sides added some life to an otherwise dull tournament but most were waiting to see Andrew Flintoff in action.
The England all-rounder, who has been fighting to regain his fitness, picked up Andrew Gale's wicket in his four-over spell and then also impressed with a fine half century.
Flintoff, who combined caution with a few classy strikes, reached his half century off 62 balls with six boundaries but soon after exposed his off-stump to be bowled by Amjad Shahzad, who bowled impressively.
Flintoff put on 74 runs for the sixth wicket with Glenn Chapple, the latter also getting to his half century with a majestic six. But Chapple, also fell trying to improve the dipping run rate and Lancashire were bowled out for 196.
"It was nice to spend some time in the middle," Flintoff was quoted in his county website.
"It would have been nice to have won and finished off the trip that way, but you could see that the way we played, there's a great spirit amongst the lads out there.
It was good to spend some time in the middle; I'm not hitting the crease as hard as can do, but it [the ankle] feels pretty easy.
"I always felt that once the ankle was fit, my bowling would be fine. It seems to be at this stage."
Brief scores
Yorkshire beat Lancashire by 41 runs. Yorkshire: 237 all out in 48.2 overs (Anthony McGrath 41, Gerard Brophy 36, Andrew Gale 32, Craig White 29, Simon Marshall 4-54, Newby 2-31, Kyle Hogg 2-37). Lancashire: 196 all out (Andrew Flintoff 51, Glenn Chapple 51, Amjad Shahzad 2-33, David Wainwright 2-31, Deon Kruis 2-36). Man of Match: Andrew Flintoff.
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