Pakistan A snatched a nail-biting thriller narrowly from England Lions in the third and final Twenty20 at the Sheikh Zayada Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Lions were outplayed by four wickets and one ball spare but still won the series by 2-1.

With a mild target of 147 to win, Pakistan A were on track for a comfortable victory as Umair Khan and Aamer Sajjad enjoyed a productive fourth-wicket stand. However, Steve Kirby returned to the attack to remove both in successive overs, for 49 and 23 respectively, before Sajid Mahmood’s run-out of Naeem Anjum off the first ball of the final over left Pakistan A needing six off the last five balls. Tailender Tanvir Ahmed struck the crucial boundary to seize victory.

Pakistan after winning the toss opted to bowl first as Lions off to a flying start with an opening stand of 58 with Steve Davies (17) and man in form Craig Kieswetter knocked a fluent 50 off 32 balls with five fours and three sixes. His half-century – which followed on from a run feast of 40 and 77 in the opening two matches in Sharjah – helped England post 149-6.

Abdur Rehman followed up his dismissal of Davies, caught at mid-on for 17, by having Kieswetter stumped by Naeem Anjum. The slow left-armer spinner finished with 2-21 off four overs. Skipper Mohammad Hafeez trapped Michael Lumb lbw for 6 but captain Andrew Gale knocked unbeaten run-a-ball 36 to ensure the loss of Ian Bell for 17 off Tabish Khan. Gale and Peter Trego – who hit a brisk 14 not out, added 29 off the last 22 balls to carry England to 146