Dubai: UAE fought valiantly against England Lions through their No. 7 batsman Adnan Mufti before losing the third and final match of the unofficial series by 16 runs. Mufti cracked a brilliant 69 runs off 80 balls with six boundaries before being run out chasing England’s impressive total of 223 for eight in 50 overs.

England Lions recorded a clean sweep over the UAE by winning the first match by eight wickets and second by 100 runs. For the UAE players it was a huge exposure against top professional English county players.

In the third match, UAE won the toss and elected to field. They justified their decision of bowling first by taking England’s early wickets.

Skipper Amjad Javed dismissed opener Daniel Bell-Drummond for 15 while Mohammad Shahzad removed the other opener Nick Gubbins for 12.

Shahzad also went on to trap Tom Aslop leg before for 11.

Three down for 45 in the first 15 overs, Joe Clarke and Liam Livingstone put on 70 runs for the fourth wicket before Ahmad Raza took his second catch of the innings at gully to dismiss Livingstone for 29 off Qadeer Ahamd. Raza had earlier caught Bell Drummond too at slip. Meanwhile, Mohammad Qasim clean bowled Clarke for 42 — and half the England side were back in the pavilion for 115.

Sam Curran (40) and James Fuller added another 45 runs for the sixth wicket. Despite Qadeer taking two more wickets, England Lions managed to post an impressive 223 for eight in 50 overs.

Chasing the total, UAE lost an early wicket when young opener Chirag Suri edged Curran to wicketkeeper Clarke for two. Fuller dismissed one-drop batsman Mohammad Shahzad for one. UAE’s inform opener Rohan Mustafa played another fine knock of 40 runs and put on 48 runs for the third wicket with Mohammad Usman (19).

Mustafa, who had hit 33 runs in the first match and 45 in the second match, fell to Ollie Rayner for 40 runs made off 64 balls with three boundaries and a six. Rayner also trapped Usman leg before. Rameez Shahzad scored 18 runs off 15 balls hitting one six and two boundaries before offering a return catch to Rayner. Adnan Mukti and Saqlain Haider put on a fighting 30 runs partnership for the seventh wicket before Fuller had Haider caught at point for 12. Mukti also added another 47 runs for the eighth wicket with Ahmad Raza who fell leg before to Craig Overton for 17.

Brief scores: England Lions bt UAE by 16 runs England Lions 223 for 8 in 50 overs (Joe Clarke 42, Sam Curran 40, Qadeer Ahmad 3 for 48, Mohammad Shahzad 2 for 54) UAE 207 in 48. 1 overs (Rohan Mustafa 40, Adnan Mukti 69, Ollie Rayner 3 for 27, Craig Overton 3 for 29).