India A stumbles to big defeat
Chasing an improbable 421, the visitor folds up for 167 to go down by 254 runs in Worcester.
Published : Jul 19, 2018 21:03 IST
England Lions handed India A a 254-run defeat on Day Four in the one-off unofficial Test in Worcester, exposing its batsmen’s vulnerability against the red ball in English conditions. Resuming at 11 for 3 at stumps on Day Three, India A folded up for 167 in 44 overs.
The writing was on the wall when India A reached 115 for six at lunch. The innings did not last long following the break and the moment Rishabh Pant perished after a quickfire 61, it was all over for India A. The silver lining for Indians was that Ajinkya Rahane and rookie Pant spent some valuable time in the middle ahead of the five-Test series against England.
Pant, who earned his maiden Test call-up on Wednesday, struck a second successive half-century to give the Indian team management a selection headache ahead of the first match. India picked two specialist wicketkeepers in the 18-man squad, including Pant and Dinesh Karthik, who is more likely to feature in the series opener.
Read: Rishabh Pant will serve the country for long, says coach
The unofficial Test has served as warm-up game for the likes of India vice-captain Rahane, opener Murali Vijay, Karun Nair and Pant, who are all part of the Test squad announced on Wednesday.
Pant made a mark against a potent pace attack comprising four Test players, with knocks of 58 and 61, while Rahane spent some time at the crease, having scored 49 and 48 in the two innings. Nair and Vijay, however, failed in both the innings.
Brief Scores
England Lions 423 and 194 for 5 (Malan 56, Pope 50*) beat India A 197 (Shaw 62, Pant 58, Curran 5 for 43) and 167 (Pant 61, Rahane 48) by 253 runs.