Taylor scores 61 in England Lions victory

James Taylor scored his maiden half-century for England Lions in just his second appearance to help the team beat Pakistan A by three wickets in Dubai today.

Taylor made a mature 61 from 100 balls and shared a match-winning stand of 109 with Michael Lumb, who made 110.

The youngster scored five boundaries in his knock and played extremely sensibly to help the team towards their target of 232.

He came in during testing circumstances as the innings was wobbling at 56-3 and Andrew Gale and Ian Bell had just been dismissed from consecutive deliveries.

So Taylor, who was out from the first delivery he faced on debut on Monday, had to stave off a hat-trick ball for his initial task.

That scenario did not phase the 20-year-old and he then went about his business in a typically hard-working and gutsy fashion.

The series stands at 1-1 with a game to play. That match will take place on Friday.