GRANT Flower is hoping his match-winning innings in Saturday’s Friends Provident Trophy final will keep him in a job.

Man-of-the-match Flower hit a superb 70 not out to lead the Essex Eagles to a stirring five-wicket victory over the Kent Spitfires at Lord’s.

The former Zimbabwe batsman is out of contract at the end of the season and, although he is eventually planning to follow brother Andy into a coaching role, the 37-year-old is not planning to pack his whites away just yet.

“I’m getting on to level four coaching qualifications this winter. It’s a route I’d like to go down,” he revealed.

“But I want to keep playing for now. I’m not sure how long I’ll play for. It depends if I get a new contract!”

Flower arrived at the wicket with Essex wobbling at 88-3, but showed all his experience to compile an immaculately-timed 97-ball innings.

The veteran put together a pair of fine partnerships of 68 with James Foster (18) and 57 with Ryan ten Doeschate (30 not out) as the Eagles soared to their first one-day knockout trophy in 11 years.

Known as the quiet man of the Essex dressing room, Flower was in typically under-stated, modest mood after what had been a tense, nail-biting final.

“It’s up there in my career achievements,” said the man who played 67 Test matches and 219 One-Day Internationals for Zimbabwe before leaving the country in dispute with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union in 2004.

“Obviously playing international cricket for your country is a massive honour, but this is definitely the high point of my time at Essex.

“As you get older, your successes become fewer and farther between, so you have to enjoy them.”

And Flower, who has been an outspoken critic of his home nation’s cricket authorities in recent months, admitted he was grateful to be given the chance to shine on such a huge stage so late in his distinguished career.

“The cricket back home has gone,” he said.

“I’m really lucky to be playing with Essex and still playing first-class cricket when the guys back home are not.

“I’m afraid the administrators there have only got themselves to blame, but I’m fortunate to have got a second chance over here.”

Whether or not he will get another chance is down to Essex’s cricket committee, who will surely now offer Flower some sort of playing contract for 2009.