ANDREW Flintoff battled his way back into form from his long lay-off and spectacularly set up a potentially exciting finish to Lancashire's Frizzell County Championship Second Division contest with Worcestershire Aat New Road.

Making his maiden first-class appearance of the season after several months of rehabilitation from an ankle operation, Flintoff eased his way back to fluency with a hard-hitting 83 to prevent the embarrassment of suffering a pair on his comeback.

He took nearly half an hour to get off the mark before treating the New Road crowd to the full range of strokeplay which England hope can inspire their first Ashes success since 1986-7 later this summer.

His contribution, aided by a determined 83 from Stuart Law and 57 from Dominic Cork, enabled Lancashire to set a testing victory target of 268, and with Muttiah Muralitharan to combat on the final day Worcestershire had reached 58 for two by the close.

Flintoff hit four sixes and 10 fours during his 101-ball innings and dominated a 139-run stand with Law which spanned only 31 overs.

The partnership gave Lancashire a platform to claim a crucial advantage.

Chasing a testing victory target, Worcestershire got off to a dismal start with James Anderson dismissing Stephen Peters with the first ball of their reply with a brute of a delivery which lifted off a length and he edged behind.

Needing determination and resolve, Worcestershire were instead treated to Hick's brilliant strokeplay to hand them back the initiative after he pulled Anderson for six and then cut a four in the same over.

Cork briefly reclaimed the advantage for Lancashire by trapping Moore leg before but a determined unbroken stand between Hick and Ben Smith ensured a thrilling final day at New Road.

Meanwhile, Worcestershire are poised to give a debut to South African all-round Zander de Bruyn when they take on Middlesex in the totesport League Division one at Lord's tomorrow.

Worcestershire: Solanki, Hick, Vaas, de Bruyn, Leatherdale, Smith, Kabir Ali, Mason, Pipe, Price, Batty, Moore.