Craig Kieswetter strengthened his claims for a full England call-up with another quickfire half-century during the Lions’ narrow defeat against Pakistan A in their third Twenty20 match.

The Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman, who had already hit an unbeaten 31 and 77 in the previous two matches in Abu Dhabi, continued his impressive tour by hitting 50 off 32 balls to help the Lions reach 146 for four in their 20 overs.

Kieswetter hit five fours and three sixes and shared in a 58-run stand with Steve Davies in just six overs, but England’s scoring rate slowed down after he was stumped shortly after reaching his half-century.

Pakistan A were on course for a comfortable victory with Umair Khan and Aamer Sajjad sharing a 46-run fourth wicket stand but Steve Kirby removed them both in successive overs and Sajid Mahmood’s run-out of Naeem Anjum off the first ball of the final over left them needing six off the last five balls.

Tanvir Ahmed struck the crucial boundary with a ball to spare to claim Pakistan A’s our wickets victory as the Lions prepare for Wednesday’s match against England, with Kieswetter and the rest of the Lions will be competing for places in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in West Indies.