Andrew Flintoff Hat Trick vs West Indies 030409

"When cricket followers reflect on the winter of 2008-09, Englands first one-day series win in the Caribbean will merit scarcely a thought. But history and legacy mattered not a jot to some tired players last night. Relief, delight and a feeling that, at last, they are over the worst, meant a jubilant end to the West Indies tour.

Spurred by the towering Andrew Flintoff, who took a late hat-trick with balls that were full, fast and straight, the bowlers managed to defend a total of 172 to complete a turnaround from 2-1 down in the best-of-five-match schedule. The crowd may have partied on, but they were dancing to Flintoffs very Lancastrian tune.

It has become a cliché to note that Englands one-day fortunes are unhealthily reliant on Flintoff. But they are. This time he made inroads in his first spell, returned to peg back Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard in the batting powerplay, and proved altogether too good for the tail, who could barely lay bat upon ball.

With catches taken into account, Flintoff, whose five for 19 was his best return in a one-day international, had a hand in seven wickets, and West Indies were in such chaos by the end that they surrendered with a run-out born from confusion. England have rarely been so clinical and they will return home in good spirits in the early hours of tomorrow morning."

Richard Hobson, The Times

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Andrew
• Flintoff
• Hat
• Trick
• West
• Indies

[brentford1000]

Can't believe that some dickheads say that it is easy to get a hat trick. You wouldn't have been able to do it

[MrCuteboy90]

flintoff is the great allrounder at all.i love freddy.well done

[03156580014]

nice



[cameron9792]

arrogant prick

[xerllessur]

fitting way to end his ODI career

[Sl4y3rNeb]

@brentford1000

you're completely right!

especially since there's a 99.9% chance the third batsman plays a defensive shot.

[AC3xHD]

Flintoff is ultimately one of the most dramatic and unpredictable cricket player i've ever seen

[corek1949]

@zuzzano1 But the Proteas couldn't - so you know shit about cricket.

[279Cricket]

Waht happend on the 6th ball?

[Sammyy46]

@123shaheer123 shut up you dick.