ANDY Flintoff responded to his critics in style for Lancashire at Liverpool yesterday. Freddie had come under fire for his double failure in England's disappointing draw against Zimbabwe.

But he bounced back to form with a determined 73 from 100 balls in Lancashire's Championship game against Hampshire.

"I needed that," he said with a grin. "I know I haven't been in nick because I hadn't made a decent score since our championship game against Leicester.

"I have had some stick in the press and on TV but people are entitled to their opinion. I'm a big lad and I can take it. Deep down I know my own game and I have to stick to it.

"Hopefully I'll stay in the side but if I don't I am just going to have to get back to my game and work my way back."

Flintoff smashed Alan Mullally's first ball through the covers for four and added nine more boundaries in his 82-ball half century, reaching 50 with consecutive fours off Shane Warne. He looked on course for a century until he was lbw to Mullally in the first over after lunch but his fourth wicket stand of 129 with Neil Fairbrother had already laid the platform for a big first innings lead.

Hampshire fought back well to take the last seven wickets for 97 with four for Warne and three for Mullally. Fairbrother was left unbeaten on 77, a brave effort as he was clearly struggling with a calf strain -- but unable to use a runner because he had brought the injury into the game.

Mike Smethurst also provided some entertainment by thumping Warne for three boundaries in a handy last wicket stand of 23.

Smethurst then claimed the crucial wicket of Robin Smith in Hampshire's second innings with a clever slower ball, and with Ian Austin and Glen Chapple sending back the openers Lancashire were well on course for their third Championship win of the season before the fourth Hampshire wicket fell this morning to Austin.