LAHORE: A high-quality all-round performance by James Coles gave England Lions a 32-run victory over Pakistan Shaheens in the second T20 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. With this victory, the Lions took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Coles top-scored with 48 not out in the Lions’ 183 for five and then returned figures of 4-0-18-4 as the Shaheens slipped from 70 for one to 151 all-out in 19.3 overs. Coles was instrumental in the middle-order collapse, accounting for Abdul Samad (0), Arafat Minhas (0), Saad Masood (30), and Ahmed Daniyal (3).

Scott Currie picked up the scalps of Shamyl Hussain (20) and Shahid Aziz (15) to finish with two for 30, while Sonny Baker dismissed Hasan Nawaz (20) and Sufiyan Muqeem (0) to finish with two for 24.

Maaz Sadaqat was the top scorer for the Shaheens, scoring a 25-ball 32 with two fours and two sixes before falling to Dan Mousley.

After scoring 57 for one in the PowerPlay overs, the Shaheens lost momentum in the next nine overs, managing only 48 runs and losing four wickets to reach 101 for five after 15 overs.

Earlier in the afternoon, England Lions, put into bat, posted an impressive 183 for five. Their innings followed a strong start of 57 for one in the PowerPlay, with the last five overs producing 48 runs.

James Coles provided the late impetus to the innings, scoring a 30-ball 48 not out with four fours and two sixes. He received solid support from Dan Mousley (19, 17b, 1 x 4) and Tom Moores (16 not out, 11b, 1 x 4), adding 44 runs off 29 balls and 37 runs off 22 balls for the fifth and sixth wickets, respectively.

After Shahid Aziz dismissed Will Smeed off the first ball of the match, Ben McKinney (38, 25b, 6 x 4) and Jordan Cox (36, 30b, 4 x 4, 1 x 6) added 61 runs for the second wicket in 41 balls. For Pakistan Shaheens, Shahid Aziz finished with two for 26, while Saad Masood picked up two for 38.

The third T20 will be played on Tuesday, 24 February, in Abu Dhabi. England Lions won the first T20 by four wickets.

Scores in brief:

Second T20 – England Lions beat Pakistan Shaheens by 32 runs, Abu Dhabi

England Lions 183-5, 20 overs (James Coles 48 not out, Ben McKinney 38, Jordan Cox 36; Shahid Aziz 2-26, Saad Masood 2-38)

Pakistan Shaheens 151 all-out, 19.3 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 32, Saad Masood 30, Shamyl Hussain 20, Saad Baig 20, Hasan Nawaz 20; James Coles 4-18, Sonny Baker 2-24, Scott Currie 30)

First T20: England Lions beat Pakistan Shaheens by four wickets, Abu Dhabi.