Billings gains more captaincy experience on Lions tour
Saturday 16th January 2016
Sam Billings gained more leadership experience as captain of England Lions in Dubai.
The 24-year-old Kent Cricket Academy graduate deputised for Hampshire’s James Vince as the Lions lost their second and final warm-up against the UAE at the ICC Academy.
Billings won his second toss of the tour but decided to bat first after chasing in the win on Thursday. Daniel Bell-Drummond did not play as the sqad was rotated ahead of the five-match series against Pakistan A next week.
Vince starred with 58 off 56 balls but England lost consistent wickets to slide to 97 for six before some fine tail-end resistance.
Billings scored 10 off seven balls before Steven Parry and Jamie Overton’s unbeaten 57 off just 35 balls pushed Lions to 222 for nine.
In reply, the UAE top order all made contributions to reach 164 for three as Billings claimed one stumping.
Liam Plunkett was the pick of the bowlers with 3/29 off ten overs as the UAE middle order struggled when Lions fought back with regular wickets.
Rohan Mustafa and Ahmed Raza settled the ship and sealed a tense two-wicket win with two balls to spare.