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Flintoff stars as England win

Author: Rose Young
Date: 22/07/2009

Andrew Flintoff was the star of the show as England secured a 115-run victory over Australia in the second Test match at Lord's.

The Lancastrian all-rounder took five wickets as England, who are now the online favourites to regain the Ashes, took a 1-0 lead in the series.

Resuming on 313-5 in their second innings and chasing a world record 522 runs for an unlikely victory, the tourists were bowled out for 406 as Flintoff mopped up most of their tail.

Flintoff made the crucial early breakthrough when Brad Haddin edged the ball to Paul Collingwood at second slip without adding to his overnight score of 80.

It was 356-7 when Graeme Swann clean bowled centurion Michael Clarke, who played over the ball as he advanced down the pitch. Clarke had made 136 from 227 balls, hitting 14 boundaries in a superb rearguard knock.

Flintoff then took England even closer to a first Lord's success over the Baggy Greens since 1934 when he brought one back to knock over Nathan Hauritz's off stump.

Can England repeat their form at Lord's and beat Australia in next week's third Test at Edgbaston? - Latest Cricket Betting

He repeated the trick to dismiss Peter Siddle for seven to complete a rare five-wicket haul, before some late hitting by Mitchell Johnson delayed the inevitable.

He smacked 63 from 75 balls before aiming an ambitious drive at Swann and being bowled by the off-spinner, who finished with figures of 4-87.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan's unbeaten 96 proved crucial as his team secured a four-wicket victory against the West Indies. The success means Bangladesh clinch the series 2-0.

Left-arm spinner Shakib ended with figures of 5-70 as Bangladesh bowled out West Indies for 209 in the morning session, leaving the tourists with a target of 215 to win the match.

They were struggling on 67-4 at one stage but Shakib and Raqibul Hasan (65) put them on track for the victory when they put on 106 for the fifth wicket.

In Colombo, Pakistan ended the first day of the final Test against Sri Lanka on 289-7.

Pakistan have already lost the series and were struggling on 36-2 after Thilan Thushara took two wickets in one over.

However, Khurram Manzoor and Mohammad Yousuf shared a third-wicket stand of 167 to help lift the tourists to a respectable total.

In the second division of the County Championship, 16 wickets fell on the first day of the game between Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire at Cheltenham.

Batting first after losing the toss, the home side were dismissed for 147, with David Lucas taking 5-49. Northants struggled in their reply but eventually ended the day in control of the match after making 175-6.

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