A magnificent century from Middlesex youngster Dawid Malan sent Lancashire Lightning crashing out of the Twenty20 Cup at the Oval last night.

The 20-year-old batsman who was born in England and raised in South Africa battered six sixes and 10 fours to rescue the Crusaders from 21-4 in the quarter-final clash.

His 54-ball 103 helped them post a useful 176-7. Andrew Flintoff claimed 3-17 from his four overs.

Flintoff then hit 53 off 41 balls in reply, but a run-rate that was spiralling above nine from an early stage was just too tall a task and they lost by 12 runs.

Lancashire flew out of the blocks after they had been asked to field first, with the tie hosts slumping to 2-2 in the second over thanks to wickets for Glen Chapple and Dominic Cork.

Cork then removed Ed Joyce, who was harshly adjudged to have been caught behind, while Flintoff got Ben Scott courtesy of a stunning one-handed catch by Francois Du Plessis at point.

Malan and Eoin Morgan (33) then put on 80 off 53 balls for the fifth wicket with Malan hitting Du Plessis for three sixes in one over.

He later battered leg-spinner Simon Marshall for 28 in the 15th over, including three sixes, two fours and a two.

Flintoff then got two wickets in two balls in the final over of the innings, but Middlesex had gained some crucial momentum.

Former Bolton Association wicketkeeper Gareth Cross, opening the Lightning innings because Mal Loye was ruled out with a recurrence of his back spasms, was trapped lbw in the first over to Steven Finn.

Lou Vincent was then fired leg before in the next over. Like the hosts, Lancs were 2-2.

Stuart Law was caught off the bowling of Murtagh, but at least Flintoff then got going by hitting the seamer for 18 in the sixth over of the innings. Freddie whacked a straight six, and three fours. He completed his first 20-over half century since 2004, including five fours and three sixes. But when he departed, the game was up.