England warmed up well by achieving the second constant victory in the tour match before the start of the Test series against Pakistan. They won the match against Pakistan Cricket Board XI convincingly by 100 runs on the third and final day.

England scored 269 runs after losing nine wickets before they declared their first innings. The Pakistan Cricket Board XI responded with 200 runs for the loss of nine wickets declared. England smashed 181 runs in their second innings before losing just three wickets and the innings was declared to assess their bowling strength. The Pakistan Cricket Board XI’s second innings was demolished at 150 runs in 52.3 overs.

The match was played at ICC Global Cricket Academy, Dubai which was a neutral venue on January 11, 12 and 13, 2012.

Earlier England started their innings at 82 without losing any wicket, Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott were unbeaten on 36 and 39 runs respectively in 22 overs. They initiated carefully and managed just five runs in the first four overs but kept the score board moving later in the innings.

Strauss completed his fifty in the 31st over and Trott followed him in the next over. Strauss lost his wicket at 62 runs while trying to accelerate the scoring not before the total had touched 130 runs. The new comer Kevin Pietersen departed after the addition of just ten runs in the score as Ian Bell walked in the crease.

Trott changed his gears and dispatched boundry almost in every over he faced but was caught by Mohammad Khalil off Yasir Shah at nicely crafted innings of 93 runs which included 12 fours. England declared their second innings after the fall of that wicket at 181 runs and set a target of 251 for the Pakistan Cricket Board XI, to win the match.

The leg break spinner Yasir Shah was the only bowler who claimed three wickets.

The Pakistan Cricket Board XI had a disastrous start of their second innings as they lost their three top order batsmen for mere 16 runs as the fast bowler’s duo of Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions were unplayable. The youngsters Usman Salahuddin and Fawad Alam resisted well against the invasion of the England bowlers. Both of them did not let the bowlers rule over them and dispatched boundaries on the loose balls time and again.

The left arm spinner Monty Panesar brought the breakthrough for the visitors when Usman lost his wicket at his individual effort of 32 runs. The fourth wicket fell at 87 runs as left hand batsman took guard for his turn. Fawad Alam completed his fifty in the 26th over but lost his wicket after the addition of just one run in his individual score.

The fifth wicket was down at 103 runs when the English bowlers took complete charge of the game with a little resistance from the late order batsman Raza Hasan who contributed 22 runs. Their innings came to an end on the third ball of the 53rd over when the score board reflected 150 runs.

Onions and Panesar were the most successful bowlers with three wickets each, Tremlett was rewarded with two as Graeme Swann and Pietersen chipped in with one wicket each.

England won the second tour match by 100 runs and will be anticipating their current form in the series against Pakistan. The first Test of the three match series will be played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium from January 17, 2012.