Sam Billings hits matchwinning knock for England Lions in Dubai
Monday 14th December 2015
Kent wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings steered England Lions to a hard-earned series-equalling victory against Pakistan A with an ice-cool unbeaten half-century, setting up a Dubai decider on Wednesday.
The Lions restricted Pakistan A to 116 for nine in their 20 overs under the floodlights, with Tom Curran taking 2-15 on his debut and Billings running out Junaid Khan.
But the Lions were then reduced to nine for three, as Junaid Khan produced comfortably his best spell of the series.
Liam Dawson, the Hampshire all-rounder who has had an excellent series, joined Billings first to steady the ship, and then to counter-attack.
Billings reached a 44-ball half-century in the 16th over in which he hit Mir Hamza for two sixes, and although Dawson fell for 37, the Lions won with five wickets and 11 balls to spare – with the Kent wicketkeeper-batsman unbeaten on 61 from 48 balls.