Freddie fires England

Flintoff: Back to his best

Thank heavens for Andrew Flintoff.

As England looked to be letting the Test slip away from them, it fell to a fired-up Flintoff to pull it back.

Things aren't great – South Africa finished at 256 for 6 before bad light stopped play, which already gives the tourists a lead of 25.

However, Flintoff's 10 overs showed that the talisman of the team is back to his furious best.

Ten overs, figures of two for 20 – and one of the best deliveries ever seen in Test cricket.

Flintoff's spell seemed to be doomed when umpire Aleem Dar, usually so reliable, made the wrong call on a lbw decision that even Stevie Wonder could have got right.

Batsman Jacques Kallis, who was settling in rather too nicely, somehow escaped to face another delivery. And that's when Flintoff pulled out all the stops. And destroyed Kallis' off-stump.

Flintoff then removed the in-form AB de Villers to give England a lifeline and finish his own day's work with figures of four for 68.

Another spell like that and England are still in this. Although we may yet be praying for rain to secure a draw...

share this story: