TEENAGE Bashley star Ryan Higgins top scored with a hard-hitting 65 but was unable to save England Under-19s from defeat against Pakistan.

Playing in the tri-Series clash at Grace Road, Leicester, Higgins smashed an impressive 65 from 46 deliveries as he took centre stage in the international.

The all-rounder, who made 45 against Bangladesh last week, thumped a six and 12 fours to play the leading role as England posted 189 all out.

However, that was not enough to prevent a heavy loss as the visitors had already racked up a daunting total of 369 for seven.

Higgins was joined in the England team by other local cricketing prospects Tom Barber and Lewis McManus.

Barber, who played for Parley, and McManus, who came through the Dorset ranks, are both at the Hampshire Academy, while Higgins is on the staff at Middlesex.

Left-arm paceman Barber returned figures of two for 68 from his seven overs, with Academy colleague McManus dismissed for seven.

England Under-19s, who are sitting in third position in the tri-Series table, face a key showdown with second-placed Bangladesh Under-19s tomorrow.

Higgins, Barber and McManus are all aiming to secure a place in the England squad for the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Dubai next year.