England Lions fall to defeat against Pakistan A
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 21: Players of England Lions leave the field after day four of the tour match between England Lions and Pakistan A at Sheikh Zayed Stadium Nursery 1 on November 21, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Pakistan A won the four-day ‘Test’ against England Lions after Abid Ali and Usman Salahuddin inspired the hosts to chase down 312.
Ali, who’s made over 100 first-class appearances and scored a ton against New Zealand A earlier this month, scored 113 while Salahuddin, who made his Test debut against England in Leeds last summer, made 74.
The game was in the balance heading into the final day after three days which had largely gone the Lions’ way but it wasn’t to be on a frustrating final day for the tourists.
There were three wickets for Dom Bess and a second of the innings for Jamie Porter – to make it five for the match for him.
Porter and the rest of the England seamers gave everything on an unresponsive wicket that improved as the game went on but the Lions’ stand-out performers were captain Sam Billings and Joe Clarke.
The Lions will start the one-day leg of the tour on November 25 in Dubai.
England Lions schedule in the UAE
November 25: First 50-over match v Pakistan A, Dubai
November 27: Second 50-over match v Pakistan A, Dubai
November 29: Third 50-over match v Pakistan A, Abu Dhabi
December 2: Fourth 50-over match v Pakistan A, Abu Dhabi
December 5: Fifth 50-over match v Pakistan A, Dubai
December 7: First T20 v Pakistan A, Abu Dhabi
December 8: Second T20 v Pakistan A, Abu Dhabi