Davies leads England Lions to sizeable lead

Fast bowler Mark Davies took four wickets to help England Lions dismiss New Zealand A for 243 in their first innings in Lincoln, giving the visitors a valuable first-innings lead of 103. That advantage had been stretched to 159 by stumps, with the England Lions openers added an unbeaten 56.

The day began with England Lions on 331 for 9 in their first innings and Sajid Mahmood clubbed 12 runs to reach his half-century before he was bowled with the score on 346.

New Zealand A had a terrible start to their innings, losing opener Aaron Redmond in the second over with the score on one. Davies had given England Lions the early advantage and he struck thrice more to reduce the hosts to 59 for 5. New Zealand A were in danger of being bowled out for cheap until Reece Young and Ewen Thompson rescued the innings with half-centuries.

Young scored 71 off 105 balls and Thompson hit ten fours and a six in his innings of 60 off 56 balls. The pair added 83 for the sixth wicket and helped their team recover to 225 for 6. However, another collapse triggered by Gareth Batty (3-49) and Mahmood resulted in the hosts being dismissed for 243.

England Lions had 19 overs to face and Stephen Moore and Robert Key remained unbeaten on 29 and 25 respectively.