The Lions got off to a solid start at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane after Alex Davies (76) and Ben McKinney (32) put on 50 for the opening stand. They had reached 134-2 when a collapse ensued, and they soon found themselves reeling at 161-7 thanks mainly to Tom Whitney (4-72).

Flintoff joined Freddie McCann (51) at this point, and the pair took the score to 227, past the CA XI’s first-innings total of 214. But when No.10 Josh Tongue fell, Flintoff took the onus of heavy scoring upon himself. No.11 Mitchell Stanley made only four not out in the last-wicket stand of 75.

The 16-year-old hammered nine fours and six sixes before becoming the last wicket to fall for a 127-ball 108 as the Lions, at one point set to concede a lead, ended up leading by 105 themselves.

Only 10.1 overs of cricket were possible after that, but there was enough time for Sam Cook to take out home opener Henry Hunt. CA XI finished the day on 24-1, still trailing by 81.

Earlier in the match, the CA XI’s 214 was largely built around some lower-order resistance after Pat Brown (5-21) had wrecked the top order with a hat-trick. Coming to bat at 135-6, Ryan Hicks (64) helped the hosts reach 214.