Michael Lumb delivered his finest performance of the England Lions tour by far as he fired a thrilling hundred to see his side through to a three wicket win over Pakistan A in Dubai.

Chasing 232 to win the match and level the series, the Lions stuttered on 56 for 3 but Lumb held firm and found a willing partner in Leicestershire batsman James Taylor. The pair put on a match-defining 109 run stand, swinging the game back in the Lions’ favour. Taylor departed for 61 but Lumb continued on to a superb 110, hitting 6 fours and a six.

The Lions nearly undid their good work in a chaotic final over. Needing just two to win, Lumb was dismissed before Steve Davies was clean bowled and Chris Woakes was run out. But David Wainwright and Adil Rashid held their nerve to scamper home via a leg bye and bring victory to the delight of the whole team.

Lumb said after the match: "It was a good win for the boys today. I thought it was a fair score on this wicket, maybe we could have put a bit more pressure on them at the death but thought we bowled pretty well. We knew we needed a couple of big partnerships if we were going to chase down that sort of total and it was pretty special getting a hundred.

"We're 1-1 going into the last game so we did the job today and Friday is a really big game for us. They're a good side and we'll need to play good cricket to beat them but we know that we're capable of it and it would be great to leave here with another series win."

The Lions had earlier put in a disciplined performance with the ball to restrict Pakistan A to 231 for 8. After Steven Finn had dismissed former Test opener Mohammed Hafeez, Pakistan A adopted a safety-first approach and the bowlers had to work hard for their wickets. Finn and Sajid Mahmood picked up two each and there was a wicket apiece for Wainwright, Rashid and Peter Trego. Despite a late assault, the Lions had given themselves an excellent chance - a chance that Lumb ensured was not wasted.

England Lions face Pakistan A in the final 50 over match of the series on Friday.
 
Mark Tilley

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