LANCASHIRE may have erected a smokescreen around yesterday’s return of Andrew Flintoff, but their threat to Durham’s status as champions was clear to see.

Glen Chapple justified his decision to put Durham in through his own superb bowling as they slipped from 84 for one to 212 for eight at the close of a day in which 34 overs were lost.

Flintoff wasn’t named in the squad on Wednesday, but he duly made the comeback first predicted in these columns three weeks ago and took a wicket with his second ball.

Two balls later he struck Will Smith on the shoulder, but with a phalanx of photographers peering through their lenses the script then departed from perfection.

There were no more wickets in two spells of six and four overs, but Flintoff did hold two catches at second slip and struck again with the second ball of his third spell in a brief evening session.

Figures of 12-3-30-2 would have been rather more satisfying than the 4-0-50-0 he recorded on his last appearance, in an Indian Premier League match on April 23. And in his last firstclass match, the third Test in Antigua in mid-February, he was out for a duck in an England total of 566.

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

Flintoff continued to bowl impressively, but Durham kept him out, only to contribute soft wickets to Sajid Mahmood and Oliver Newby before Chapple weighed in with his skilful swing bowling in the afternoon.

Flintoff paid tribute to the new Lancashire captain when he said: “There’s no better swing bowler in the country and he was fantastic today. My job was to support him and I’ve had a really good day.

“I’ve made more comebacks than Joe Bugner, but when you’re doing all the rehab it’s for the opportunity to pull on the L a n c a s h i r e and Engl a n d shirts.

“I didn’t know for certain until this morning that I would be playing, and to get a wicket with my second ball was a surprise. I tried to bring it back into him, but it went straight on and he nicked it “I’ll have to be 100 per cent when the Ashes start and I hope to play a lot more cricket for Lancashire. I always enjoyed working with Peter Moores when he coached England and he’s had a big impact at Old Trafford. The lads really believe they can do something this year.”

It seems likely that Lancashire were awaiting clearance from the ECB medical staff, and once that was received there was no hesitation in pitching Flintoff 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.

Moores said: “Freddie has increased his intensity and bowled a bit more each day and came through very well this morning before the game so he was deemed fit to play. He is obviously keen to get as much cricket under his belt as possible to make sure he is ready for the Ashes.

“From our point of view it’s great when Freddie plays and he enjoys playing for his county because he has come through our system.

“He’s very excited about our season.

“We have a lot going on this season and we have made a good start ourselves. Freddie knows that and he just wants to get out and play his cricket.”

Lancashire began poorly, with Mahmood’s first four overs costing 26 runs, despite including a maiden.

Mark Stoneman hit him for several imperious 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 Newby playing a flatfooted stroke he would rather forget, Stoneman’s exit after playing so well was a big blow and Durham were 100 for three at lunch.

Gordon Muchall again looked in good form, but after making 18 he slapped the rankest of long hops 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 faced 41 balls for 15 at tea before steering the first ball after the break, from Newby, over the gully area for his first four. He was unbeaten on 31 when the fourth shower of the day ended play.

Scoreboard

Durham v Lancashire At Riverside Lancashire Won Toss

Durham First Innings Close M J Di Venuto c Sutton b Flintoff ...........16

M D Stoneman c Flintoff b Mahmood ...45

W R Smith c Sutton b Newby ................11

G J Muchall c du Plessis b Mahmood ...18

D M Benkenstein c Flintoff b Chapple ...26

I D Blackwell b Chapple ........................20

P Mustard not out .................31

C D Thorp c Horton b Chapple ............. 4

M E Claydon c Sutton b Flintoff ............. 6

G Onions not out ...................... 2

Extras (lb10 w9 nb14 pens 0)......33

Total 8 wkts (62.5 overs)........212

Fall: 1-42 2-84 3-84 4-117 5-143 6-166 7-172 8-203

To Bat: S J Harmison.

Bowling: Chapple 21.5-5-45-3. Mahmood 14- 4-62-2. Flintoff 12-3-30-2. Newby 15-2-65-1.