Lions no match for England

England's bowlers and top-order batsmen all prospered in a facile seven-wicket win over the England Lions at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Steve Finn and Jade Dernbach, two players who are both pushing for places in the one-day team to face Pakistan in the series opener on Monday, picked up three wickets apiece to help skittle the Lions for a mere 96.

Left requiring so little for victory, captains and coaches from both sides decided that England should instead try and make 230 from their 50 overs.

They did just that with plenty to spare, skipper Alastair Cook making 68 before Jonathan Trott saw them home with an unbeaten 75.

Successful chase

Kevin Pietersen had also played his part in the successful chase, making 41 in his return to the opening role that he filled for England at last year's World Cup before injury ended his tournament early.

Together with Cook he put on 79 in 17.1 overs before Chris Woakes ended their alliance, getting Pietersen - who had hit five boundaries in his 45-ball knock - caught behind by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

One-day skipper Cook carried on after the departure of his fellow opener, putting on a further 72 with Trott as he reached his half-century.

Eventually, though, the left-hander's fun came to an end when he went down the wicket to a delivery from left-arm spinner Dan Briggs only to be beaten in the flight, leaving Bairstow with the simple task of removing the bails.

Ravi Bopara came out to enjoy some time in the middle, hitting three fours to reach 32, and although he wasn't quite able to see the job through, falling to leg-spinner Scott Borthwick, Trott remained through to the end in Abu Dhabi as the target was reached with 25 balls to spare.

England's attack had been just as ruthless at the start of the day, with the Lions never recovering from losing two wickets in the second over.

Double strike

Dernbach bowled Alex Hales for a first-ball duck and then also removed Joe Root lbw before he too had troubled the scorers. In his third over the Surrey man then had James Vince caught at mid-wicket for six, leaving the score at 13-3.

Only a single had been added to the total when Bairstow became Finn's first victim, an inside edge being well taken by fellow gloveman Craig Kieswetter, who had played for England's second string on their recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Lions captain James Taylor, already regretting his decision to bat first, opted to counter-attack, hitting four boundaries to become the first of just three batsmen to make it into double figures in the innings.

Bresnan eventually ended his stay on 30, with Taylor's departure being sandwiched in between a double strike from spinner Graeme Swann.

Samit Patel got in on the act when he took a simple return catch to dismiss Briggs, while Finn bundled out the final two wickets to finish with figures of 3-28. Poor Woakes was left unbeaten on a top score of 32, the Lions having lasted just 28.3 overs.