Twenty20 tour match, Sharjah:
England Lions 157-3 (17.4 ovs) bt Pakistan A 156-7 (20 ovs) by 52 runs
 Kieswetter hit eight boundaries and four sixes in his innings |
Craig Kieswetter smashed an unbeaten 77 from 52 deliveries as England Lions eased to a seven-wicket Twenty20 victory over Pakistan A in Sharjah. The Somerset wicketkeeper shared a 115-run third-wicket stand with Ian Bell (48) as the Lions reached their target of 157 with 14 balls to spare. Asked to bat first, Pakistan A were restricted to 156-7 from 20 overs. Only Shahzaib Hasan (57) batted with purpose as Adil Rashid (2-21) and Peter Trego (2-38) impressed with the ball. Left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz gave Pakistan hope when he dismissed opener Steve Davies (14) and Michael Lumb in successive deliveries as the Lions stuttered at 34-2 in the fourth over. But Bell, fresh from unbeaten 37 against UAE A on Wednesday, ensured there were no further worries for the Lions alongside Kieswetter.  | 606: DEBATE |
The South African-born opener, playing as a specialist batsman, blitzed eight boundaries and four sixes in a destructive innings. Bell hit three fours and a six in his 48-delivery innings before he fell to Riaz (3-34) in the 17th over with the game safely wrapped up. "Craig was exceptional is deciding when to take their bowlers down," said Lions skipper Andrew Gale. "He played good cricket shots and showed how mature he is. "We haven't nailed it up front with the ball or at the death so we will sit down and review that and look where to improve. "
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