MIKE Smethurst won praise from coach Bob Simpson and England's Andy Flintoff for his latest career best performance.

Smethurst's 7-37 against New Zealand A in Liverpool yesterday, which beat his previous best of 7-50 against Durham earlier this season, was not enough to stop the match ending in a tame draw, despite an action packed final day.

But the tall 23-year-old former Edenfield pro offered further evidence of his exciting potential, taking his wickets tally for the season to 26 at an average of less than 11 each -- and leaving him at the top of the national first class averages.

Simpson said: "The improvement Mike has shown since our pre season tour of South Africa has been fantastic. He is coming on nicely and I'm absolutely delighted for him.

"He's a lad who unashamedly says he is going to be a county cricketer and he's going the right way about it."

Smethurst also received a telephone call from Flintoff during the Edgbaston lunch break congratulating him on his figures. "That's typical of Freddie, and also the spirit we have tried to build up among the team," added Simpson.

"Even when Mike was left out of the team after his seven wickets at Durham, which wasn't an easy thing for him to handle, we tried to keep him involved."

On the day Lancashire's greatest ever fast bowler, Brian Statham, was laid to rest in Manchester, Smethurst bowled with real pace and hostility on a typically flat, slow Liverpool pitch to rip out five wickets yesterday morning. The New Zealanders collapsed from 156-3 to 194 all out. But surprisingly John Crawley chose not to enforce the follow on, and Lancashire were soon in trouble themselves at 45-6.

Graham Lloyd and Jamie Haynes steadied the ship, allowing Crawley to declare in mid afternoon but the game was always heading for a draw after that.

Lancashire now have three limited overs matches before their Championship showdown with Yorkshire on Thursday week, starting with a trip to Cleethorpes for a NatWest Trophy tie against Lincolnshire on Wednesday, and there is no danger of Smethurst being dropped after his latest career best.