England Lions start with T20 victory
England Lions secured a fourwicket victory in their first unofficial Twenty20 against Pakistan A in Abu Dhabi.
Looking to respond from losing the unofficial one-day international series, the Lions elected to field and soon had Pakistan A on the back foot.
Captain Shan Masood was out to Mark Wood for just two in the second over, with opener Mukhtar Ahmed (13) and Israrullah (four) also failing to make a decent score.
Adil Amin hit 23 from 30 balls, while Umaid Asif struck a rapid 40 as Pakistan A posted 131 for eight from their 20 overs. Saqib Mahmood finished with four for 14 from his impressive three-over spell.
England Lions recovered from the early loss of Joe Clarke, out for two in the second over, and later captain Lewis Gregory (two) as Tom Kohler-Cadmore (33) and Sam Hain (21) helped the reply on to 88 for six.
Wood (27 not out) and Jamie Overton (24 not out) settled any late nerves to guide the Lions past their victory target with four balls to spare.
Bowler Mohammad Irfan, one of three players in the Pakistan A team with the same name, took four for 24.
The second T20 match takes place on Saturday.
Lancashire have signed Australians Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell as overseas players for the 2019 season.
Batsman Burns, who has made 20 international appearances, will be available for 10 of the Red Rose’s Specsavers County Championship Division Two fixtures.
Ex-Yorkshire all-rounder Maxwell can feature in all three formats, having opted out of the Indian Premier League, and is expected to play a maximum of five championship games.
Burns, formerly of Leicestershire and Middlesex, told Lancashire’s official website: “Lancashire is a huge county with a fine history in the game and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to play for the Red Rose next year.
“I’m determined to put in some match-winning contributions for the side and help Lancashire push for promotion at the first time of asking.”
Maxwell, who has played seven Tests, 87 one-day internationals and 57 Twenty20s for Australia, added: “Coming over to England early next year will also help me acclimatise to conditions ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup which I am incredibly excited about.
“I still have aspirations to play Test cricket for Australia so I felt it was important that I play some first-class cricket whilst I’m over in England.
“There are some very talented young players in the Lancashire squad and I can’t wait to join up with the lads in April and contribute towards a successful season.”
England Test captain Joe Root has signed a contract extension with Yorkshire which will keep him at the county of his birth until 2022.