Lancashire teenager Rocky Flintoff has made 32 on his first-class debut, watched by his famous cricketing dad Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.
Still, the promising 16-year-old found himself overshadowed as Jordan Clark’s four-wicket haul put leaders Surrey on top after the opening day at the Oval on Thursday.
On a day where his fellow teenagers were learned their GCSE results, Flintoff became Lancashire’s youngest player ever in the county championship.
He was off the mark first ball, clipping Australian paceman Dan Worrall confidently for two off his pads, looking uncannily like his dad in both build and mannerisms.
They young Flintoff saw off Worrall’s fine opening spell of 7-3-9-1 and helped Josh Bohannon add 40 for Lancashire’s third wicket in tough, overcast conditions.
Flintoff, who’s shone at England age-group and Lancashire second-team level already this summer, was dropped at third slip on 13 but could not capitalise after flashing Clark to Sai Sudharsan at point.
Clark earlier castled opener Luke Wells then claimed two-in-two to claim 4-57 as Lancashire were all out for 204 before Surrey openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley put on an unbroken 83 before stumps.
Captain Burns ended the day on an unbeaten 44, with Sibley on 37 not out for the division one leaders, who paid tribute to their late former batter Graham Thorpe with a minute’s silence before play.
Elsewhere, Durham openers Alex Lees and Ben McKinney both registered hundreds as Nottinghamshire’s bowlers were put to the sword at Chester-le-Street.
Lees thumped 145 and McKinney 121 as Durham racked up 5-393. Olly Stone, released by England to play for Nottinghamshire, went at nearly six an over as he conceded 87 from 15.2 wicketless overs.
Joe Leach’s six-wicket haul put Worcestershire in charge against Kent in the battle of the bottom two first division at New Road, Worcester.
After Tawanda Muyeye’s breezy 56, basement-side Kent lost 10 wickets for 98 runs as they were all out for 171 before Worcestershire closed on 2-137, with opener Gareth Roderick unbeaten on 53.
Jacob Bethell’s 60 not out and Michael Burgess’ unbeaten 63 helped Warwickshire recover from 6-165 to 277 without further loss at Edgbaston.
There was frustration all round at Southampton as rain meant no play was possible between Hampshire and Essex, both of whom need a win to realistically keep their faint title hopes in tact.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au