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Liam Dawson and James Vince impressed in the first 50-over contest at Trent Bridge
Liam Dawson and James Vince both took the chance to impress in the first game of the England Lions’ Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa A at Trent Bridge yesterday – even though neither of them had a bat.
Dawson dismissed two of South Africa’s top three batsmen and earned typically tidy figures in his 10 overs, continuing his excellent recent form in red and white-ball cricket for Hampshire – and also reinforcing the good impression he made on the England selectors and management as the outstanding player of the North-South Series in the spring.
But that was partly down to the proactive and imaginative captaincy of Vince, who introduced his Hampshire team-mate unusually early in the eighth over – and was rewarded with the wicket of the dangerous JJ Smuts within three balls.
Vince earned high praise afterwards from Lions head coach Andy Flower, having been reappointed captain partly as a result of the positive impression he made in leading the South to their 3-0 whitewash of the North in March.
“With the nature of the pitch, it was easy paced for seam bowling, and it was nice that Vincey brought me on early,” said Dawson.
“I’ve been bowling pretty well for the last few weeks after struggling a bit with the switch back to red-ball cricket at the start of the season, and it was good to carry that on for the Lions.”
Dawson has had a busy week, as he received a late call into England’s squad for the third and last match of the Royal London One-Day Series at Lord’s on Monday – immediately after playing a key role in Hampshire’s Specsavers County Championship win at Somerset.
He didn’t play in the game but his inclusion was further confirmation that he remains on the radar of the England selectors and management – and all the Lions squad are effectively on stand-by for any openings that crop up in the Champions Trophy.
“We had a great win in the Championship on the Sunday, then I found out as we got off the pitch that I was off to Lord’s for the final one-day game,” Dawson explained.
“So I’ve had a little bit of travelling, but it’s obviously good to be involved. And to put a decent performance in for the Lions is pleasing as well.”
The Lions have now moved on to Northampton for the remaining two games in the series, on Saturday and a day-night match on Monday.
