England Lions: Sam Billings hammers side to win over Pakistan A
Sunday 24 July 2016 22:15, UK
Sam Billings hit a stunning 175 as England Lions claimed a 56-run win over Pakistan A in Canterbury.
Billings reached his ton from 97 deliveries before cutting loose and bashing 75 runs from his final 42 balls to become the Lions' third centurion of the Triangular Series, after Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan.
The Kent man's knock, during which he nailed 21 fours and four maximums, propelled England to 324-8 from their 50 overs after Pakistan pacer Bilawal Bhatti had reduced them to 49-4.
Jaahid Ali clubbed 103 for Pakistan A in reply but the tourists were bowled out for 268 in 48.2 overs, Mark Wood stepping up his push for a recall to the full England side by taking three wickets.
Duckett and Malan, who had blasted 163 and 185 against Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A respectively, fell early to Bhatti, with the seamer also accounting for Daniel Bell-Drummond and Liam Dawson.
Billings breathed life into the innings, though, with Liam Livingstone (64) proving a handy partner - the pair putting on 125 for the fifth wicket in 20 overs before Livingstone was bowled out.
Billings remained unflustered by the loss of Livingstone, dominating half-century stands with the Curran brothers, Sam and Tom, and helping the Lions club 81 from the final eight overs.
The Currans then picked up a wicket apiece as Pakistan stumbled to 30-2 before Jaahid Ali shared partnerships of 97 with Babar Azam (0) and 81 with Saud Shakeel (26).
Jaahid, who blasted 11 fours, was eventually bowled by Wood in the 40th over, with the Durham seamer going on to dismiss Bhatti for a golden duck next ball, Billings taking the catch behind the stumps.
Amad Butt (29) provided some late resistance but the Lions proved too strong, with Tom Curran, Sam Curran and Liam Dawson each ending with two scalps and Saqib Mahmood one.
