Flintoff bowling efforts the only thing to lift Old Trafford gloom.

ANDREW FLINTOFF watched a Lancashire batting collapse hand the early advantage to Somerset as both sides returned to County Championship action at Old Trafford.

Play finally got under way in this LV Division One fixture at the start of day two and the hosts won the toss and elected to bat.

Opener Paul Horton top scored with 69 off 160 balls to help the Red Rose progress to 162 for two in the 48th over of another rain-affected day..

But seamers Peter Trego and Alfonso Thomas claimed two wickets each as six wickets fell for 55 runs in 21 overs.

Home captain Glen Chapple then rescued his side somewhat with 55 off 79 balls as Lancashire closed on 281 for nine. Trego had Ashwell Prince caught by Arul Suppiah (two for 25 off nine overs) at gully and then Mark Chilton caught at first slip by his captain Justin Langer.

South African Thomas then had in-form compatriot 

Francois du Plessis caught by Langer in the same position for a duck and Horton caught behind.

Part-time off-spinner Suppiah had Luke Sutton (20) caught behind and later bowled Chapple. David Stiff bowled Sajid Mahmood in between for figures of three for 70 off 19 overs.

Horton had shared a thirdwicket partnership of 87 in 23 overs with South African Test lefthander Prince (48 off 65 balls).

Lancashire's day had been progressing very nicely indeed and quite a lot of it was down to the sight of England star Flintoff bowling outdoors for the first time since surgery on his right knee nearly six weeks ago.

The 31 year-old bowled the equivalent of six overs in two spells before the start of play and at lunch under the watchful gaze of coach Peter Moores and personal physiotherapist Dave Roberts.

His four-over spell during the lunch interval was a lot more vigorous and at times he was closing in on full pace.

Stiff claimed the early wickets of Tom Smith and Mal Loye. He forced left-handed Smith (12) to pull straight to Charl Willoughby at mid-on to leave hosts at 35 for one.

Horton and Loye, who is playing his first Championship match since last September after ongoing knee and calf problems, then shared a second-wicket partnership of 40 in 10 overs.

But 36 year-old Loye then pulled Stiff to Trego at deep backward square-leg for 31 off 41 balls.

Chapple' later walloped seven fours and two sixes in a 77-ball half-century. He shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 64 in 11 overs with Oliver Newby (12 not out)..

CAPTION(S):

Andrew Flintoff