England Lions tightens the noose on India A

The home team is ahead by 385 runs in the second innings in Worcester, with six wickets in hand.

Mohammed Siraj (centre), with three wickets, was India A’s most productive bowler.

England Lions dismissed India A for 197 in the first innings on Day Three of the one-off four-day unofficial Test in Worcester. The home team’s top-order batsmen consolidated the advantage as the Lions reached 159 for 4 at stumps, an overall lead of 385.

Resuming at 144 for 4, the Indians capitulated quickly. Ajinkya Rahane (49) and Rishab Pant (58) added another 45 runs to take India A to 189. Pant, who received his maiden Test call-up on Wednesday, fell in the 62nd over to Chris Woakes after he had completed his half-century. Pant hit six boundaries and cleared the ropes once during his 111-ball innings.

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Rahane, too, was sent packing in the next over by Sam Curran as India A slumped to 189 for 6. The tail was cleaned up quickly; Curran trapped Shahbaz Nadeem (0) leg-before-wicket in his next ball, before picking up Mohammed Siraj (1) and Navdeep Saini (0).

Shaky start

England Lions suffered an early blow in their second innings when Siraj removed former England skipper and first innings centurion Alastair Cook (5) cheaply. The Lions were struggling at 25 for 2 after Nick Gubbins (9) also fell to the same bowler.

Captain Rory Burns (38) and Dawid Malan (56) added 47 to steady the innings before Siraj struck again, removing the opener in the 27th over. Malan and Ollie Pope (32) took the host close to the 150-mark, adding 70 runs. Once Nadeem had cleaned up Malan in the 44th over, Woakes joined Pope as the duo tried to resurrect the innings.

• England Lions 423 and 159 for 4 in 46.4 overs (D. Malan 56; M. Siraj three for 48) leads India A 197 in 66.5 overs (P. P. Shaw 62, R. Pant 58; S. Curran five for 43) by 385 runs.