James Vince boosted his World T20 chances with another gem of an innings as England won a thriller against Pakistan in Dubai.

The Hampshire captain entertained another capacity crowd at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium by top-scoring with a stylish 38 from only 23 balls.

It helped ensure a three-run series-clinching win despite a stunning all-round disaply by former Hampshire star Shahid Afridi.

Vince followed his debut 41 (36 balls) the night before with three fours and two sixes in successive balls, against a Wahab Riaz slower ball and Shoaib Malik’s off-spin.

His first maximum went through the hands of former Hampshire teammate Sohail Tanvir at long-on at the end of the 12th over.

After a Jos Buttler single, he unfurled the shot of the match against the second ball of the 13th, a stunning maximum between the fielders at deep cover.

Vince followed that with successive sweeps for four, taking 14 from three balls off Shoaib, before top-edging an attempted sweep against Afridi (3-15) midway through the 14th over.

He dominated his fourth-wicket partnership with former West of England schools teammate Jos Buttler, which yielded 35 from 19 balls.

Buttler, captain in the absence of Eoin Morgan, was on eight when Vince departed and went on to make 33 (22 balls) as England finished on 172-8.

Afridi blitzed a seven-ball 24 against an England attack without the rested Reece Topley but, needing four to win off the final ball, Pakistan were restricted to 169-8.

The series ends in Sharjah on Monday, with the World T20 only three months away.