Markande spins India A to big win

Mysuru, February 15 

Punjab leg-spinner Mayank Markande scalped five wickets to spin India A to a convincing innings and 68-run win over England Lions in the second unofficial Test to clinch the two-match series 1-0 here today. Markande (5 /31) spun a web around the visitors to bowl them out for 180 in the second innings after they were forced to follow-on. 

Resuming at 24 for no loss and faced with the daunting task of handling the Indian spinners on a turning wicket, the Lions batsmen came a cropper, with only Ben Duckett (50) and Lewis Gregory (44) showing some fight. Besides Markande, Jalaj Saxena (2/40) claimed two wickets.

The 21-year old Markande, who performed creditably for Mumbai Indians in IPL last year, troubled most of the England batsmen with his guile. The talented Ollie Pope was Markande’s first victim, trapped leg-before. Opener Duckett, however, mixed caution with aggression to defy the India A bowlers. He hit four boundaries and two sixes in his half-century and was involved in a 40-run partnership with fellow opener Max Holden (7). 

Off-spinner Saxena struck the first blow for the hosts, dismissing Holden leg-before. He also dismissed Duckett in the same manner. Markande then took over and had the Lions batsmen in a spin, getting a lot of turn on a wearing wicket.  He removed Steve Mullaney, Dominic Bess and Zak Chappell in quick succession as the Lions capitulated.

Running out of partners, Gregory went on the offensive and hit six fours and a six during his 49-ball knock before becoming the last batsman to fall, handing India A victory with a day to spare. 

Earlier, the Rahul Dravid-coached India A enforced the follow-on after dismissing the visitors for 144 in the first innings in reply to their 392 all out. — PTI

Brief scores

India A 392 all out (Abhimanyu Easwaran 117, KL Rahul 81, Priyank Panchal 50; Zak Chappell 4/60, Danny Briggs 3/71); 

England Lions 144 & 180 all out (Ben Duckett 50, Lewis Gregory 44; Mayank Markande 5/31).