Flintoff to England's rescue

13 April 2012

The real Andrew Flintoff emerged from the shadows here to brighten England's day and just about keep alive their hopes of achieving a series-snatching victory.

After two Tests in which Flintoff looked as though he was batting in the dark against Sri Lanka's spinners, the Lancashire all-rounder found himself thrust into another crisis.

But unlike at Galle and Kandy where England had nothing much more than survival to aim for once he reached the crease, Flintoff felt more able to play like his true self.

Either that or the 26-year-old decided there was no point hanging about, after poking 36 runs from the previous four innings.

True, Flintoff prodded at his first ball, from Chaminda Vaas, and was lucky not to play on. But thereafter, he was seldom less than certain with his strokeplay.

Ten fours blazed from Flintoff 's bat, four sixes were levered way beyond the boundary rope, umpire Aleem Dar was fortunate not to be laid out by a straight drive and leg-spinner Upul Chandana almost had his fingers taken off by another thunderous shot.

From the dire straits of 139 for five, Flintoff almost singlehandedly lifted England to 236 for six before he fell for 77. His prospects of a third Test century were dashed, inevitably, by Muttiah Muralitharan, the spinner who remains a big mate off the field and a menace on it.

But at least this time Flintoff had made some big marks during a 109-ball innings before checking a drive and offering a low return catch that TV replays showed had been held just above ground.

England started the day in sparkling fashion, thanks to Marcus Trescothick's boundaryladen-knock of 70. And they rallied impressively, thanks to Flintoff 's fireworks and Gareth Batty's Yorkshire grit during a vital sixth-wicket stand of 87.

But whether today's score of 259 for eight is good, bad or indifferent will not become clear until much later in this match. There has already been a hint of inconsistent bounce, and the average first innings Test total on this ground is a shade under 300.

When Trescothick was smashing the new ball to all parts, it looked as though England might reward Michael Vaughan's success in winning the toss by making 400.

Then again, when they lost the wickets of Trescothick, Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe for 31 runs in 14 overs, it seemed that 200 would prove beyond them.

Murali, gave no one - not even Flintoff - the remotest encouragement to attack. The Magic Man sent down 37 overs in three spells, conceded only 38 runs and had the wickets of Trescothick, Thorpe and finally Flintoff to shown for another outstanding display.

It had not looked nearly so bright for any of the Sri Lankans shortly before lunch when England were sitting pretty at 108 for one.

Vaughan failed to prosper, edging Chandana's leg-break to skip after contributing 18 to a stand of 78. But Trescothick raced to 50 from 39 deliveries and then eased along to 70.

If only the left-hander had seen off Murali's last delivery before lunch instead of edging a bouncing, turning off-break to slip.

All too soon, Butcher snicked Dilhara Fernando's cracking away-swinger, Hussain lost a tight lbw decision to Vaas and Thorpe, forced back, was pinned in front of his stumps.

How England needed Flintoff 's free spirit then.

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Flintoff to England's rescue

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