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England completed their stay in Lahore by recording another comprehensive win over Pakistan A and gave their broadest hint yet about their thinking for this summer's World Cup.

Yesterday's 112-run victory followed Saturday's four-wicket win over the same opposition and rounded off a satisfactory stay in Pakistan before they transfer to Dubai today in preparation for the one-day tournament in Sharjah.

But captain Alec Stewart's absence from the field, ``as a precaution'' after injuring his groin while contributing 73 to England's imposing total of 291 for four, forced the tourists into appointing a temporary captain during Pakistan's reply.

The obvious candidate was Adam Hollioake, captain of England's one-day team less than a year ago, but the emergence of Andrew Flintoff as competition for his place instead prompted the selectors to hand the leadership to Neil Fairbrother.

Fairbrother, who captained Lancashire in 1985, had to prove his captaincy credentials under difficult circumstances with two interruptions for floodlight failure prompting a reduction in Pakistan's total to 232 off a minimum of 40 overs.

The two delays upset England's composure but had the same effect on the Pakistan batsmen and Graeme Hick furthered his claims as a sixth bowler this summer by taking five for 19 with his off-spinners.

If Hick's return to form with the ball was a big bonus for England before they enter the Sharjah event against India and Pakistan, the resurgence of the opening partnership between Stewart (73) and Nick Knight (92) was also a tonic.

The pair's best partnership during the recent Carlton and United Series in Australia was 64, but yesterday they refused to be deflected by Pakistan's slow over-rate, which caused the innings to last four hours, and enjoyed a 161-run stand.

On Saturday, Graham Thorpe calmed fears about form and fitness to guide England to victory.

Playing his first serious innings since limping off the Melbourne Cricket Ground with back trouble in December, Thorpe scored an unbeaten 92 to help England claim a four-wicket win with 2.2 overs remaining.