Monday 5 December 2016 16:09, UK
England Lions have wrapped up a 3-0 series success over United Arab Emirates after holding on for a 16-run victory in the final match in Dubai.
The Lions were skippered by Nick Gubbins in the absence of Keaton Jennings, who has joined up with the senior squad.
And they looked in charge when, having made 223-8 from their 50 overs, they reduced the UAE to 98-6.
However, 31-year-old international debutant Adnan Mufti led a UAE fightback and the Lions eventually prevailed by just 16 runs.
Having been put into bat, the Lions slipped to 45-3, following the dismissals of Daniel Bell-Drummond (15), Gubbins (12) and Tom Alsop (11).
But wicketkeeper-batsman Joe Clarke salvaged the situation, top-scoring with 42 and sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 65 with Liam Livingstone, who contributed 29 before falling to seamer Qadeer Ahmed (3-48).
Sam Curran chipped in with 40 from number seven and man of the match Craig Overton's 21 not out from just 11 balls turned out to be crucial.
The UAE were soon in difficulties as Curran (1-32) and James Fuller (2-35) made early inroads, but opener Rohan Mustafa (40) led a revival.
But his dismissal, caught by Overton off spinner Ollie Rayner (3-27), sparked a collapse from 71-2 to 98-6.
However, Mufti, who came in at number seven, kept the UAE in the hunt with a List A career-best 69 from 80 balls, including six boundaries.
However, Overton (3-29) took a couple of key wickets at the other end and Mufti was last out at the start of the 49th over, beaten by Ben Foakes' throw in to the keeper as he tried to run a second into the leg-side.
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