Pakistan A kept the series against England Lions alive, securing a 17-run victory in Dubai with a late surge in the field after England had appeared on track. Khurram Manzoor’s 113 anchored Pakistan A’s total of 288 for 5, but with James Vince responding with a century of his own England were well placed on 194 for 2 in the 36th over only to subside and lose their last five wickets for 13.
Vince and Sam Billings (51) had added for the third wicket when Billings was bowled by Fakhar Zaman. England were still on course as Vince reached his century off 117 deliveries, but when he was run out trying for a second to long leg the innings went into free-fall.
Mohammad Nawaz, who had claimed Daniel Bell-Drummond, a replacement for the ill Dawid Malan, at the start of the chase, then removed Joe Clarke and Ross Whiteley – a player capable of quickly hunting down a target – and the requirement became too much for the lower order. Liam Dawson ran out of partners and was the last man out for 41.
Earlier, Manzoor had helped give Pakistan A the solid foundation they had been lacking the previous two matches. A second-wicket stand of 100 with Fakhar (51) was the basis for their total although again England’s spinners – Dawson and Tom Westley – did a good job to ensure the scoreboard did not race away.
Manzoor, who has played 16 Tests and seven ODIs, reached his hundred off 121 balls; unlike Vince’s century, which included just six boundaries, Manzoor struck 11 fours and three sixes by the time he fell to Tom Curran. Fawad Alam and Zohaib Khan finished the innings with a stand of 37 off 27 deliveries.
