The series is over with India A ruling the roost yet again. With two more matches remaining, the Indians won for a third consecutive time against England Lions at the Sports Hub, Kariyavattom, on Sunday.
However, unlike the earlier two matches, this game turned out to be a low-scoring one, with bowlers dominating the proceedings. Yet, the Indians hardly had any trouble before stamping their class with a 60-run win after leaving the Lions with a score of 173 to chase.
The wicket being slow, the Indian team never got its innings going after opting to bat first. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was out first ball, leg before to pacer Lewis Gregory and the host looked to be in for a major slide after being reduced to 53 for four in 13. 1 overs. Ishan Kishan was uncharacteristic in his approach, turning defensive rather than his aggressive self, as he repaired the early damage to an extent, by stitching a fine 41-run partnership with Krunal Pandya for the fifth wicket.
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The only semblance of a fightback to salvage the position for the Indians, thereafter, came from Axar Patel and Deepak Chahar before the side was shot out for 172 in 47.1 overs. England Lions, for sure, would have fancied its chances, but was never able to get its act together after losing Alex Davies, Will Jacks and skipper Sam Billings with only 23 runs on board.
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope seemed to be in a hurry and looked taking the game away but once the pair was separated at 70, the home side firmly took control. Pandya, on a roll finished with four wickets as the touring England Lions was bowled out for 112 in 30.5 overs.
The two sides will next meet on Tuesday (January 29).
Brief Scores:
India A 172 in 47.1 overs (Deepak Chahar 39, Ishan Kishan 30, Jamie Overton three for 34) bt England Lions 112 in 30.5 overs (Ben Duckett 39, Krunal Pandya four for 21) by 60 runs.
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