Dan Lawrence put in an all-round performance to help England Lions beat Cricket Australia XI at Metricon Stadium to seal the three-match series with one game to play.
Essex’s Lawrence took four wickets, including three in four balls, as CA XI were bowled out for 179. With the threat of rain in the afternoon, England needed to stay up with the required rate in their chase and ultimately reached the target with nine overs to spare.
Henry Brookes, on Lions debut, dismissed the dangerous Max Bryant for 10 in the third over, with Marcus Harris adding 31 with opener Caleb Jewell before the wickets started tumbling.
Lawrence had Jewell caught behind with the second ball of the 11th over, with Jake Lehmann falling the same way next ball. Brad Hope survived the hat-trick ball only to succumb LBW the very next, leaving the hosts 46 for four.
Durham seamer Brydon Carse then struck twice in the 15th over and Lawrence’s fourth left CA XI seven down with just 76 on the board.
Xavier Crone’s 66 off 88 balls helped his side to a respectable total, with Carse finishing with three for 17 from eight overs.
England lost Tom Kohler-Cadmore early in the chase, bringing Sunday’s centurion Sam Hain together with James Bracey. Hain played the supporting role as Bracey hit 49 before Will Sutherland trapped him LBW.
Laurie Evans added 11 before Lawrence kept the pace going with 35 off 42. His dismissal left England needing 46 runs which Lewis Gregory (15), Craig Overton (11*) and Carse (19*) managed with 54 balls to spare.
England Lions play their final match against CA XI at Metricon on Thursday before travelling to Sydney for two matches against a NSW XI.