London: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes his promotion to number five has boosted his form with the bat.

Flintoff starred in Sunday's seven wicket win over South Africa in the fourth one-day international at Lord's scoring 31 not out to add to half centuries at Headingley and the Oval.

After a fourth ankle operation and a side strain Flintoff could hardly score a run for Lancashire at the start of the season but has been lifted by Kevin Pietersen's decision to move him up the order in one-day cricket.

He said: "It is a stark contrast to the beginning of the season when I was playing for Lancashire and got four ducks. I didn't know where I was going to score runs.

"But by playing more and more I've found my rhythm and I feel more at ease playing international cricket than county cricket.

"When Kevin asked me to bat at number five I was delighted - I have had some of my best times going in at five - it gives you the chance to get in before the last ten or 15 overs."

Flintoff has had so many injury setbacks that he is refusing to go overboard about his current golden spell.

He had grueling spells in America and South Africa with his fitness coach Dave Roberts after his latest operation and says he would not have bothered if he did not think he would be back to his best.

Despite having a back spasm before Sunday's match he still took 3-21 before finishing the game off with the bat.

He added: "I am not going to get carried away. If I did not feel I could play as well as I can I probably wouldn't have gone through it all.

"I probably took the glory at Lord's but the work had been done by Owais Shah and Kevin and that allowed me to play a few shots.

"I am going to keep working hard and doing my thing. I have managed to score a few runs but I could have bowled a bit better.

"I had a back spasm - that is because the hotel beds are soft but it was not going to affect me playing for England at Lord's."

England's run chase was reduced to 20 overs giving them a taste of things to come when they line up for the Twenty20 Stanford Challenge in Antigua in November.

Pietersen said: "I don't know how many shots we would have played if we were playing for half a million bucks each."

Tags: flintoff, south africa, england, spring boks, pietersen, england-sa 2008, odi series, sa tour of england.