England Lions enjoyed a barnstorming first day of their unofficial Test series against India A, scoring 382 runs for the loss of just three wickets on the opening day of the first game at Ahmedabad.
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The two second string sides are contesting a series of three four-day games against each other, all of which will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium and hold first-class status.
India A won the toss and elected to field first under the captaincy of Abhimanyu Easwaran. Both teams fielded strong XIs, with India boasting four internationals – Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, KS Bharat and Navdeep Saini – as well as players like Sarfaraz Khan who have been touted as India middle order options in the near future. England Lions, meanwhile, fielded five players capped at international level – Keaton Jennings, Alex Lees, Matthew Fisher, Brydon Carse and Matt Potts.
It was Jennings, the most experienced Test cricketer on either side, who was the star of the show on the opening day. The Lancashire opener compiled 154 off 188 deliveries, the 27th hundred of his first-class career.
England Lions’ scoring rate was of a similar ilk to those generally set by their senior side. The Lions finished the opening day on 382-3 from 82 overs (a run rate of 4.65) with several other England hopefuls also impressing, most notably England Lions captain Josh Bohannon who hit an unbeaten 93. Bohannon, a teammate of Jennings at Lancashire, averages 48.60 in first-class cricket. Alex Lees (73) was another half-centurion while Warwickshire batter Dan Mousley finished the day alongside Bohannon unbeaten on 35.
It was a tough day at the office for the Indian bowlers who managed just three maidens between them all day. 21-year-old left-arm spinner Manav Suthar claimed three wickets while seamer Vidwath Kaverappa was able to exert some control, finishing the day with an economy rate below three – the only frontline Indian bowler to concede less than 4.60 runs per over across the opening day.
England Lions still have batting firepower to come. Ollie Robinson, the Durham wicketkeeper who is slated to bat at six, averaged nearly 60 at a strike rate just under 90 in the 2023 County Championship. Brydon Carse, Robinson’s teammate at Durham, averaged over 60 with the bat in first-class cricket last year.
