Malan 80 sets up Lions victory

Dawid Malan enhanced his case for inclusion in England's World Twenty20 plans with a hard-hitting 80 from 56 balls as England Lions drew level in their T20 series against Pakistan A with a 41-run victory under floodlights in Dubai.

The Lions' tactic of bringing in an extra pace bowler paid dividends as Pakistan A were dismissed well short of their target. They will be able to deploy even greater firepower in the third of five matches on Friday, when Steven Finn makes his return from the foot injury that ruled him out of England's UAE tour in October.

"It will be nice to have someone of that quality coming in - although it's going to be hard to leave someone out after that performance," Lions captain James Vince said. "At least we can give someone a break.

"That pitch suited us a bit better than the one used for the first game - there was a bit more pace in it. With the pace in the wicket we were able to be a bit more aggressive with them and I'm not sure they liked it too much. It's definitely something we can take into tomorrow."

Malan, who also top-scored with 51 in England's opening defeat earlier in the week, crashed nine fours and two sixes to help his team post an imposing 164 for 5 in their 20 overs.

After losing the toss and being invited to bat first, England added 38 for the first wicket in four overs before Vince fell to Rumman Raees for 13. Tom Westley made a run-a-ball 9 before being bowled by Mohammad Nawaz, and Sam Billings also came and went quickly, making 14 from 13 balls until Iftikhar Ahmed removed him to leave England on 100 for 3 in the 14th over.

Ross Whiteley provided the late-innings impetus, making 29 not out from 20 balls. Raees, who added his second wicket late in the innings, that of Ben Foakes for 5, was the pick of the attack with 2 for 28.

In response, England's bowlers wasted little time in seizing control of the contest. Fakhar Zaman fell to Jamie Overton's third ball of the innings for 1, his opening partner Shahzaib Hasan was caught hooking at Tymal Mills for 8 and No. 4 Iftikhar made 10 before being dismissed by Jake Ball during a wicket-maiden.

From 27 for 3, Pakistan A recovered through a stand of 59 between Sohaib Maqsood and Babar Azam but Liam Dawson's left-arm spin removed both. Overton, in the XI for Stephen Parry, took two more wickets to give him figures of 3 for 26 and Ball finished the innings with three balls left.