JAMES Vince was in no mood to celebrate his first one-day century for England Lions - after his team fell 17 runs short of clinching their five-match series against Pakistan A in Dubai.

Vince, who made a big first-class century for the Lions against South Africa A last winter, continued his fine form in the 50-over leg of the tour since Christmas with 102 from 118 balls to anchor the pursuit of a Pakistan A total of 288.

But his dismissal, run out by a direct hit as he called for a risky two to long leg, triggered a slump from 223 for three to 271 all out.

Vince’s Hampshire team-mate Liam Dawson did his best to hold things together but he was last out for 41 leaving seven balls of the 50 overs unused, meaning the Pakistanis cut their deficit in the series to 2-1 with two matches to play – the first of them on Thursday.

“We were in a pretty good position there when myself and Sam Billings were going nicely,” said the Lions captain, referring to a third-wicket stand of 90 inside 15 overs to which the Kent wicketkeeper contributed 51 from 48 balls.

“But in 50-over cricket one or two wickets change the game big time. I thought we’d set it up pretty well – maybe we could have gone slightly harder in the middle, but when you lose a tight game it’s the little stuff you pick out. There was a lot of good stuff there but unfortunately we didn’t quite get over the line in the end.”

Billings was bowled by the left-arm spinner Fakhar Zaman, who had earlier made a half century for Pakistan A, and Vince followed six overs later, in the 42nd.

Joe Clarke went cheaply, one of three victims for the left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz as he chopped on to his stumps, and after launching one six over wide long on his Worcestershire team-mate Ross Whiteley was bowled by Nawaz going for another.

Tom Curran was stumped and Craig Overton run out in a disastrous 48th over for the Lions which was followed by an equally bad 49th, as Toby Roland-Jones holed out to deep mid wicket then Dawson heaved to long on.

“Daws played really well,” Vince said of his county colleague. “If one more batter had stayed with him, it stays manageable. But a couple of wickets flips it around, and credit to them, they bowled well.”

Pakistan A’s reshaped batting line-up had also proved much more effective, with Khurram Manzoor, an experienced right-hander with 23 international caps, riding his luck early against Curran and Roland-Jones to make a fine century.

“We missed a couple of chances,” Vince reflected. “Up front I thought we bowled pretty well and didn’t get the rewards. But that can happen. We could have been a bit sharper in the field, and missed a couple of run outs. In the tight games they can make a difference. We’ll have to pick ourselves up and come back Thursday.”

 

The Lions were missing Dawid Malan, a century-maker when they went 2-0 up in the series last Friday, with illness and also Liam Plunkett with his thigh strain.