LONDON, Aug 3: Pakistani duo of Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved ul-Hasan combined to put Sussex on top of the English county championship on Thursday besides spoiling Andrew Flintoff’s return to duty.

Sussex beat Lancashire by 108 runs at Liverpool with Mushtaq Ahmed and Naved-ul-Hasan taking four for 71 and three for 10 respectively.

Chasing 242 to win, Lancashire were bowled out for just 133 with Flintoff making just nine.

Earlier, Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan took three wickets to finish with eight for the match as Sussex were bowled out for 268 in their second innings.

England all-rounder Flintoff is slowly feeling his way back from ankle surgery and is hopeful of returning to the national side in time for the one-day series against India later this month.

—AFP