50-over match, Dubai:
England Lions 232-7 (49 ovs) bt Pakistan A 231-8 (50 ovs) by three wickets
Match scorecard

Johannesburg-born Lumb began his county career at Yorkshire

A Michael Lumb century helped England Lions to level the series with Pakistan A after a three-wicket win in Dubai.

Pace bowler Steven Finn took 2-30 from nine overs after the tourists chose to field, restricting Pakistan A to 231-8.

Lumb was the fifth wicket to fall after six fours and a six in 110 in 128 balls as the Lions won with an over to spare.

It was a vital win for the Lions after being bowled out for 96 in an 83-run defeat on Monday, and the series now moves to a deciding match on Friday.

There were anxious moments in the penultimate over when, needing two to win, Lumb, Steven Davies and Chris Woakes all departed.

It was left to David Wainwright to carry the Lions home, via a leg bye, much to the delight of his joyous team-mates.

On the warmest day of the tour so far, 20-year-old Leicestershire batsman James Taylor also played a mature innings with 61 in a stand of 109 with Lumb after the Lions had slipped to 56-3, and Finn and Woakes forged an impressive partnership with the new ball.

606: DEBATE All credit to Lumb because he provided the acceleration as well as the runs battingforbell

"It was a good win for the boys," said Hampshire left-hander Lumb.

"I thought it was a fair score on this wicket, maybe we could have put a bit more pressure on them at the death but thought we bowled pretty well.

"We knew we needed a couple of big partnerships if we were going to chase down that sort of total and it was pretty special getting a hundred.

"We're 1-1 going into the last game so we did the job today and Friday is a really big game for us.

"They're a good side and we'll need to play good cricket to beat them but we know that we're capable of it and it would be great to leave here with another series win."

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