ANDREW Flintoff made his comeback against Durham, after all, and took a wicket with his second ball.

Coming on first change with Durham on 42-0 after 11 overs, he had Michael Di Venuto caught behind for 16.

There was no further success for the England all-rounder in his six-over spell, nor in a second four-over burst, but he held two catches at second slip as Durham struggled to 178 for seven at tea.

Will Smith and Gordon Muchall were out to poor shots, otherwise Glen Chapple justified his decision to put Durham in through his own excellent bowling.

They began poorly, however, with Sajid Mahmood’s first four overs costing 26 runs, despite including a maiden. Mark Stoneman hit him for several boundaries, but fell for 45 when he edged the second ball of Mahmood’s second spell to Flintoff.

As Smith had departed in the previous over, caught behind off Oliver Newby, Stoneman’s exit after playing so well was a big blow and Durham were 100 for three at lunch.

Muchall again looked in good form, but after making 18 he slapped a rank long hop from Mahmood to cover, where Francois du Plessis stretched out his right hand and held the catch.

Chapple, swinging the ball both ways when it was 40 overs old, took the next three wickets. Two short breaks for rain didn’t help the batsmen to settle and Ian Blackwell was bowled for 20 by one which swung in to hit leg and middle.

Dale Benkenstein battled for 25 overs to make 26 before edging a perfectly-pitched away swinger to Flintoff, then something similar had Callum Thorp taken at first slip by Paul Horton.

Phil Mustard concentrated on survival and had been in 14 overs for 15 at tea.

It was first predicted in these columns three weeks ago that Flintoff would return at Riverside, but over the last week both he and Lancashire had played it down.

The county announced yesterday that he was not in the squad but would travel with them to continue building up his fitness.

It seems likely that they were awaiting clearance from the ECB medical staff, and once that was received there was no hesitation in pitching him into this crucial battle between two top-three teams.

He took the place of Tom Smith, whose side injury was convenient but genuine as he could be out for three weeks.