England Lions 154-1 (Tribe 52, Rew 48) beat Pakistan Shaheens 152 all out (Samad 44, Harrison 3-37) by nine wickets
England Lions could hardly have asked for a smoother start to their 50-over programme in Abu Dhabi. They bowled the Shaheens out for 152, then rattled off the runs in just 24.2 overs, finishing the job with nine wickets in hand.
“We just kept things simple,” leg-spinner Calvin Harrison noted afterwards. “On these pitches, if you land it in the right area often enough, you’re always in the game.” Harrison backed up his words with figures of 3 for 37, including two breakthroughs in the same over that turned 120-4 into 121-6 and left Pakistan scrambling.
James Coles, operating from the other end, returned 2 for 25. All six bowlers picked up at least one wicket, a spread of success Lions management will quietly enjoy. The Shaheens’ best reply came from Abdul Samad, whose 44 contained the only sustained resistance, but once he top-edged a sweep to mid-wicket the innings faded. The final six wickets fell for 32 runs.
Set a modest target, openers Asa Tribe and Ben McKinney knocked off 77 at better than a run a ball. McKinney’s 42 (two sixes, both clean over long-on) ended when he over-balanced to a low-skidding delivery and was stumped. Tribe, unflustered, pushed on to 52 not out from 64 balls, later saying, “It was just about batting time; the runs take care of themselves.” James Rew hurried things along with an unbeaten 48 from 41, the left-hander’s punch through extra cover closing proceedings well before the scheduled drinks break.
Assistant coach Neil Kearsey summed up the day: “Nice, professional, but nothing to get carried away with. The real test is backing it up on Sunday.” The second match of the five-game series, also in Abu Dhabi, starts in 48 hours.
