Flintoff’s blast from the past not enough to halt final joy for Bears

Birmingham Bears left Edgbaston with the NatWest T20 Blast trophy, Laurie Evans took the man-of-the-match honours and Chris Woakes put in a decisive all-round performance – but it was Lancashire’s Andrew Flintoff who was the name on everyone’s lips after an unexpected return to centre stage.
Lancashire Lightning's Andrew Flintoff celebrates with Ashwell Prince (left) and Steven Croft (right) after taking the wicket of Birmingham Bears' Ian Bell with his first ball during the NatWest T20 Blast Final at Edgbaston, Birmingham.Lancashire Lightning's Andrew Flintoff celebrates with Ashwell Prince (left) and Steven Croft (right) after taking the wicket of Birmingham Bears' Ian Bell with his first ball during the NatWest T20 Blast Final at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Lancashire Lightning's Andrew Flintoff celebrates with Ashwell Prince (left) and Steven Croft (right) after taking the wicket of Birmingham Bears' Ian Bell with his first ball during the NatWest T20 Blast Final at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The former England captain was expected to be little more than a big name cheerleader at Finals Day, having played just two matches since coming out of retirement this summer.

But he was thrust into the spotlight after Kabir Ali was injured in the semi-final win over Hampshire.

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On the fifth anniversary of his final England appearance the 36-year-old rolled back the years, dismissing Ian Bell with his first delivery and coming desperately close to winning the match with the bat.

Given he has been training alone while filming a television show about fish and chips, it was a remarkable effort.

He finished 20 not out from just eight balls, two nostalgia-soaked sixes off Oliver Hannon-Dalby teeing up a dramatic finish.

Everyone, it seems, felt the script had already been written and victory would be Flintoff’s.

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Instead, Woakes held his nerve in a fine last over to seal a four-run win, after making 181-5.

Evans, who claimed the sponsors’ champagne for his 53, admitted: “Andrew got the biggest cheer of the day ... at one stage I didn’t think we were the home side.

“It seemed to be a little bit written in the stars for him, coming back getting Belly out first ball then he hits the last two balls of the 19th over for six.”

After shutting Flintoff’s momentum down with some well-placed yorkers, Woakes added: “He’s still got it hasn’t he? There was some good striking at the end there, but it’s just great to close it out.”

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Lancashire captain Paul Horton was candid enough to admit there was no place for Flintoff in his best XI until Kabir’s injury, but started to believe a Freddie miracle was in the offing.

“We thought we were going to get over the line when Freddie came in and smacked it really well,” he said.

“If Kabir hadn’t got injured he probably wouldn’t have been there and it’s totally different, it might not have been Freddie’s story, might not have been Freddie’s day but once he got in we thought he was going to win it.

“I was surprised really. He’s had a long lay-off. He’s worked hard to regain his fitness but he’s been in a chip van for a couple of weeks.

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“He’s come from no cricket and done that today. It’s testament to him because he’s been training by himself and bowling on his own to be available for Finals Day.”

Birmingham coach Dougie Brown was a contented figure at the end of the match.

“Oh man, Twenty20 never fails to disappoint,” said Brown. “I thought we had it in the bag and then Freddie hits a couple and all of a sudden it’s game on again.

“Credit to Woakes, he did exceptionally well and it’s just amazing to get it over the line. It was a complete rollercoaster of emotions.

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“We’ve done really well and come on as a side massively in the last two-three years so to get across the line here on our home ground is incredible.”

As for Flintoff, while he savoured his return to the big stage, he was later moved to apologise to 25-year-old Hannon-Dalby, after directing a verbal volley at the former Yorkshire bowler.

The potential of a match-winning innings had entered Flintoff’s mind, and he blames that for blurring his judgement after smacking the medium pacer over the ropes twice.

“I had one of those horrible things where my eyes went a little bit, and I started to really get into it,” said Flintoff.

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“I started to think ... ‘I can win this, I’m enjoying this, it’s brilliant this’. I walked past him and he had a big grin on his face and he was staring at me.

“I shouted at him, ‘What are you looking at?’, but I put another word in.”

Lancashire had made it through to the final after crushing Hampshire in the second semi-final at Edgbaston.

Chasing a Duckworth/Lewis revised target of 143 in 16 overs, Hampshire fell victim to a constricting bowling performance by Lancashire, who dismissed the two-time winners for 101 for a 41-run win.

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William Porterfield was the match-winner as hosts Birmingham defeated Surrey by 16 runs in the earlier semi-final.

Porterfield starred with a wonderfully composed 81 not out from 47 balls, outshining team-mate Bell’s 38 and leaving Kevin Pietersen disappointed on his return to county cricket.

Pietersen managed a scratchy 13 as the Brown Caps failed to chase down the Bears’ 194-4, though had Jason Roy stayed much longer they might have had a chance. He reeled off 58 in just 28 deliveries but departed before the job was done.

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