Sam Billings hits 50 to help clinch England Lions T20 series win
Wednesday 16th December 2015
Sam Billings struck his second half-century of the series and held his nerve for England Lions in a Super Over to settle the T20 series against Pakistan A in Dubai.
The Kent Cricket Academy graduate reached 50 off just 30 balls as Lions appeared to coasting to the victory target to 166 with Middlesex opener Dawid Malan’s 81 helping the tourists ahead of the required run rate.
Earlier, Lions won the toss and inserted Pakistan A with the bowlers battling back from a fast start by openers Sharjeel Khan and Sohaib Maqsood to reach 68 in the seventh over.
Liam Dawson’s 1-25 from four overs and good death bowling from Jamie Overton kept the total down to 165 for three.
In reply, Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond scored 17 off 15 on debut before Lions lost captain James Vince for five to slip to 53 for 2.
Scoring slowed in the closing overs as England needed 20 off 21 balls but only managed to tie the scores to trigger the Super Over.
Player of the series Malan and Billings returned to strike 12 from their six balls before Tom Curran restricted the hosts to eight to win the series 3-2.
Billings celebrated a third series win after victories in ODI and T20 series against the senior Pakistan side with England earlier this winter.