West Indies A hold on despite Hain 144

Sam Hain's 144 on England Lions debut went in vain as the visitors narrowly failed to chase down their target against West Indies A in the first of three unofficial ODIs. Warwickshire batsman Hain and Matt Parkinson were involved in an extraordinary last-wicket partnership of 102 but, with six required from the final three balls, Roston Chase had Hain well held on the boundary to snatch victory away.

The Lions had been struggling in pursuit of 273 after slipping to 128 for 8 and 165 for 9. Aside from Hain, only Nick Gubbins made double-figures among the top order, as Keemo Paul ripped through the middle order.

No. 10 Richard Gleeson stopped the procession, scoring 13 in a partnership of 37 in nine overs, as Hain went to his fifty from 56 balls. He then picked up the pace, while keeping the majority of the strike, during a remarkable stand with Parkinson - bringing up his century from his 94th delivery - but fell looking for a six to long-on that would have sealed the game.

The West Indies A innings was based around Jermaine Blackwood's 99, with useful contributions from Andre McCarthy and Rahkeem Cornwall. Four of the Lions bowlers claimed two wickets apiece, with Parkinson's 2 for 33 from 10 overs the pick.

The innings began in unusual fashion, with opener Chanderpaul Hemraj retiring hurt without facing a ball. That brought in No. 3 Blackwood early, and he proceeded to a 77-ball fifty, putting on productive stands with Kieran Powell, McCarthy and Cornwall. He fell one short of his century, hitting Parkinson to short cover, but with Hemraj fit to bat lower down West Indies A were eventually dismissed two balls short of their allocation.