India A won the second unofficial Test against England Lions by an innings and 16 runs after a five-wicket-haul from Saurabh Kumar sealed the result for the home side.
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England Lions finished the third day on the cusp of defeat, 33 runs behind India A’s first innings score with only two wickets remaining. It didn’t take long on the fourth morning for Arshdeep Singh and Yash Dayal to clinch the two remaining wickets and give India A a 1-0 series lead.
Durham wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson was the pick of the batters on day three for the Lions, having hit an unbeaten 84, but he was only able to add one run to his overnight score before he was caught behind off Arshdeep. No.11 Tom Lawes lasted fewer than three overs at the crease before he became the last wicket to fall, meaning India A did not have to bat again.
The Lions were on the back foot from the first day when they were bowled out for 152. Following a strong performance with the bat in the first ‘Test’, not a single batter made a half century in the first innings in Ahmedabad. In response, India A piled on the runs in their first innings, Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan both scoring centuries, Khan’s a blistering 161 off 160 balls. Half centuries from Washington Sundar and Saurabh Kumar took India A to 489 all-out, and a lead of 332.
England Lions fell to 156-6 in response, with Saurabh taking five wickets on day three to take India A to the brink of victory. The final game of the series will begin on Thursday, February 1 in Ahmedabad.
