Liam Dawson top scored for England Lions but could not prevent a second defeat in three games against Pakistan A.

The Hampshire all-rounder’s unbeaten 45 helped the Lions to 142-6, but Pakistan A reached their target with two balls and four wickets to spare to go 2-1 up in the five-match series in Dubai.

Batting at five, Dawson hit Pakistan A’s left-arm opening bowlers for a six apiece in their second spells.

Dawson pulled a half-tracker from Mir Hamza for his first maximum in the 17th over.

And, having scooped Junaid Khan for four in the Test star’s previous over, he ended the England innings by lifting a quicker ball over fine-leg for his second six.

Dawson’s first four, a reverse flick to the third-man boundary against off-spinner Bilal Asif (2-31) in the 14th over, was also a clever piece of improvisation.

He arrived at the crease with the Lions 66-3 in the tenth over after James Vince won the toss. Vince was again out cheaply, caught behind for six at the end of the second over (his aggregate of 21 runs at seven in this series is in stark contrast to his 125 at 41.66 for England last week).

With Dawid Malan out for 35, Dawson dominated a sixth-wicket stand of 54 in seven overs with Ben Foakes (16) to keep the Lions in the game.

Steve Finn gave the Lions real hope with 3-22, including a three-over opening spell of 2-17, but Dawson was taken off after conceding 11 from two overs.

With Pakistan A only needing eight at the beginning of the final over, new Hampshire signing Reece Topley was hit over long-off for six by Saad Nasim.

Topley took a return catch next ball but then conceded the winning boundary to Saifullah Bangash.

The penultimate game of the series is also in Dubai on Sunday.