Andrew Flintoff, the England all-rounder, bowled for the first time in six months today and marked his return with two wickets in an over against Sussex in the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge.

Flintoff, who is being nursed back to fitness after the latest operation on his troublesome ankle, last bowled in a competitive match in the ICC World Twenty20 Championship against India at Durban on September 19 last year.

Operating at somewhere close to full capacity, the 30-year-old was introduced for the ninth over of the innings, with Sussex, the county champions, 18 for two in pursuit of 247 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Their innings was soon in disarray, however, as Flintoff struck twice in the space of four balls in his second over.

Having had one big appeal for lbw turned down the previous delivery, Flintoff then had a similar appeal upheld to dismiss Chris Nash and then bowled Ben Brown with a full-length delivery.

Flintoff, who underwent a fourth ankle operation in the autumn, was removed from the attack after an initial burst of two for seven in three overs. He returned later for a second two-over spell which saw him concede just two further runs and finish with figures of 5-1-9-2, as Lancashire won by 109 runs.

Earlier, Flintoff fell for just 15 as Lancashire posted 246 in their third Pro ARCH one-day contest in a week.

Batting at number five, he got off the mark with a straight six off Luke Wright, from a free hit, and then drove the next two balls down the ground for four.

But he succumbed when he charged left-arm spinner Tom Smith, was beaten by the turn and stumped by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.

Smith, 20, was particularly impressive, also snaring Stuart Law, caught at cover, on his way to a three-wicket haul.

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