Flintoff scored three four and three sixes in hitting 39 off 23 balls

Andrew Flintoff sealed his return to the England squad by guiding Lancashire past Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Resuming day four on 34-0 chasing 163 to win, the visitors lost three quick wickets before Flintoff and Stuart Law put on 73 for the fourth wicket.

Flintoff hit 39 not out off 23 balls as Lancashire triumphed by six wickets and are now just one point behind leaders Notts in the County Championship.

The all-rounder now joins England for the second Test against South Africa.

That Headingley Test begins on Friday and although Flintoff has played only two first-class matches since recovering from a side strain, the England selectors would have been pleased by his form with bat and ball.

In both of Hampshire's innings, the 30-year-old maintained his pace and hostility in getting through 32 overs, which brought three wickets and went for 83 runs.

Flintoff, who made just two in the first innings, then contributed his timely 23-ball knock, which featured three fours, three sixes and the winning boundary off the spin of Greg Lamb.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Lancashire's victory and Flintoff's performance at the Rose Bowl

Dimitri Mascarenhas had earlier removed Paul Horton (18) to a smart low catch by Michael Lumb at first slip and Lou Vincent (41), caught a point by Greg Lamb, to five him eight wickets for the match.

Francois Du Plessis was trapped lbw without offering a shot in James Tomlinson's first over, but that brought Flintoff to the crease to join his captain, Law, in what proved to be the match-winning partnership.

Flintoff's hit Mascarenhas for hit first six sailed over long-on and followed that with successive fours off Tomlinson.

Rory Kleinveldt was driven by Flintoff for a straight six into the pavilion soon after and Flintoff's final big hit took a delivery from Lamb on to the terracing over mid-wicket.

Law was caught by Michael Brown off Kleinveldt for 36, but Lancashire eased home.