England Lions savage UAE cricket team with five-wicket win at ICC Academy in Dubai

England Lions made easy work of the UAE tally of 210, chasing victory for the loss of five wickets with eight of their 50 overs to spare, with batsman James Vince just 12 runs short of a century.

England's James Vince, left, plays a shot while Pakistan's wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed watches during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on November 27, 2015. Ineke Zondag / AFPShow less

DUBAI // The UAE continued their preparations for their first official engagement of 2016 with an exacting assignment against the England Lions at the ICC Academy on Thursday.

The national team, who face the Netherlands in a four-day and two 50-over matches next week, were soundly beaten by England’s second string.

The Lions have a variety of highly rated players in their ranks, as well as Andy Flower and Gary Kirsten among their coaching staff.

They made easy work of the UAE side’s tally of 210, chasing victory for the loss of five wickets with eight of their 50 overs to spare.

James Vince, the Lions’ top-scorer with 88, will be back to play in the Pakistan Super League in the UAE next month, after being drafted to Karachi Kings.

Read more:

Vince, who was the leading scorer in the three-match Twenty20 international series between England and Pakistan in Dubai in November, gave an angry swish of his bat after being dismissed 12 short of his century.

Earlier, the UAE’s batsmen had found the going tough against an impressive England pace attack.

Mohammed Shahzad made 46 opening the batting, after returning to the squad ahead of the World Cricket League fixtures against the Dutch.

Shahzad had been a noted absentee when the national team endured a pitiful end to 2015 after being thrashed by Hong Kong across all three formats.

Mohammed Naveed, continuing his rehabilitation from injury, and was the pick of the home bowlers, as he dismissed Sam Billings and Liam Dawson in quick succession.

The national team face the Lions again on Saturday, in their final warm-up before competitive matches against the Netherlands in the capital.

The sides meet in the four-day, Intercontinental Cup starting on Thursday, then play in the World Cricket League the following week.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport