Lancashire and Somerset's rain-affected County Championship match ended in a predictable draw.

Despite trailing by 17 runs, the hosts declared their first innings before play began in the hope of pressing for an unlikely victory.

Andrew Flintoff ended wicketless but enjoyed two venomous four-over spells, going for just 13 runs.

But half-centuries from Justin Langer and Ian Blackwell helped Somerset reach 262-8 declared before the close.

Lancashire's hopes were briefly brought to life when Glen Chapple (4-49) dismissed James Hildreth and Blackwell in one over, yet the game was realistically always heading one way.

In his last Lancashire outing before heading off to take up his last-minute deal with the Indian Premier League, Brad Hodge took two wickets with his occasional off-breaks.

Flintoff's bowling form has delighted Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson after the all-rounder ended with figures of 2-53 for the match.

And despite some indifferent batting form, which saw him dismissed for a duck in his only innings of the match, Watkinson believes Flintoff is well worth a place in England's squad for the first test with New Zealand on his bowling performances alone.

"I don't disagree that Fred would love some time in the middle," he said

"But if you ask Justin Langer how he is bowling he'll pull his shirt up and show you his bruises to tell you," he said.

"Freddie would be in most teams I would pick as a bowler anyway.

"That's one thing that Peter Moores and England's selectors will be looking at - what batting role do they want Freddie to fulfil?

"If they want him to bat six he needs more cricket and more runs under his belt. But if they want to bat him at nine or 10 then I think he could probably do that."