Rahul, Rahane fail but bowlers help India A take unassailable lead

It began poorly for India A, losing their captain Ajinkya Rahane first ball after opting to bat, but having scraped through to 172 despite no fifties, the bowlers did a fine job in defending it by 60 runs, and gave the home team an unassailable three-nil lead against England Lions. KL Rahul failed to impress on his return to action, as he was dismissed for a 25-ball 13, one of seven India-A batsmen to make double figures.

Ishan Kishan and Krunal Pandya stitched together the highest partnership of the innings to take India A from 53 for four to 94 before the latter fell for a 23-ball 21. Kishan struck a more patient 63-ball 30 and was the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 110. However, a cameo of 39 from Deepak Chahar that included four sixes, and was the joint-highest score for the match, ensured that they a had a total to work with.

Axar Patel did the early damage with the ball, reducing the Lions to 13 for two with the wickets of openers Alex Davies and Will Jacks, and soon Chahar removed Sam Billings to make it 23 for three. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were the only ones to offer a semblance of resistance with a 47-run fourth-wicket stand, but once Navdeep Saini had Pope caught behind for 27, another collapse ensued. The crucial scalp of Duckett was taken by Pandya for 39, as he ran through the lower order, picking four for 21. The Lions were bundled out for 112 in the 31st over.