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Jimmy Anderson stole centre stage from Andrew Flintoff to bowl Lancashire to an early three-day victory over Durham at Old Trafford.

Anderson claimed five wickets to finish the visitors off with embarrassing ease for just 90 on a cloudy morning, and wrap up this LV Division One match with by 232 runs.

The question which has overshadowed so much of this fixture has been whether England's selectors can pick Flintoff on bowling form alone for next week's first Test against New Zealand, in the almost complete absence of runs from the all-rounder.

But that question was relegated, temporarily at least, by Flintoff's England team-mate Anderson (five for 46) as last season's runners-up simply capitulated.

His first deed was to drop a regulation chance at slip to reprieve nightwatchman Mark Davies and deny Flintoff a fourth wicket of the innings.

But Davies was soon on his way back as Anderson trapped him lbw aiming to leg.

Garry Park, who had bowled Flintoff for a third successive championship duck, managed only two himself as Anderson got him to follow a short-of-a-length delivery and nick behind to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton, There was fleeting consternation when Flintoff made his way off the field shortly afterwards, having bowled five overs this morning.

But it transpired he was not suffering any significant setback in his recovery from a fourth operation on his left ankle and was merely taking a comfort break.

Sajid Mahmood replaced him at the Brian Statham end, but it was Mark Chilton's fielding which was to bring about the next and most important wicket.

Phil Mustard pushed Mahmood to cover, and opener Di Venuto had to be sent back after setting off for an ambitious single. Chilton did the rest with a direct hit.

Mustard himself lasted little longer, edging Anderson high to second slip, and the England hopeful struck again in his 11th straight over when Ben Harmison flashed another catch behind.

With Flintoff on a watching brief at slip, Mahmood and Anderson applied the finishing touches.

Mitch Claydon was lbw to Mahmood, who then took a simple catch at mid-off to make Steve Harmison Anderson's final wicket and put Durham out of their misery around 20 minutes before lunch.

2:21pm Friday 9th May 2008

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