India A are firmly in the driver’s seat in the second Test against England Lions and have a 33-run lead after the end of day three in Ahmedabad, needing two more wickets for an innings victory and a series lead.
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IND A vs ENG Lions 2nd Test scorecard
England Lions had been shot out for 152 in their first innings after they won the toss and opted to bat first. Barring a fighting 48 from Oliver Price, no other batter made an impact as all five India A bowlers picked up at least a wicket each. Akash Deep was the standout, with a four-for as England were bundled out quickly.
In reply, the India A batters drove home the advantage. A 162-run opening stand between Abhimanyu Easwaran and Devdutt Padikkal saw India A take the lead. The former made 58 while Padikkal scored 105 in 126 balls. A mammoth partnership between Sarfaraz Khan (161 in 160) and Washington Sundar (57 in 132) followed, which took the score from 184-4 to 353-4. Saurabh Kumar, batting at No.8, contributed with 77 before India A were bowled out for 493, having taken a lead of 341. Matthew Potts picked up six wickets but he also conceded runs at 4.14 an over.
Up against a huge total, England began day three on a bad note, losing Alex Lees in the sixth over for one. Most of the visiting batters got starts but were guilty of not carrying on as England Lions fell to 67-3. At 156-6, the team were looking at a huge innings defeat but wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson along with Brydon Carse stitched together a 102-run stand before the latter was dismissed by Saurabh, who picked up five wickets in the second innings.
England Lions lost two wickets on the same score and now need 33 on the last day with two wickets in hand to avoid an innings defeat. Robinson is unbeaten on 84.
