Lions draw with India A

Wayanad, February 10 

Ollie Pope (63) and Sam Hain (57) stood out on the final day with fighting half-centuries as England Lions drew the first unofficial Test against India A at the Krishnagiri stadium. Resuming at 20/0, openers Ben Duckett (30) and Max Holden (29) brought up the team’s 50 in the 12th over. Paceman Avesh Khan got the first breakthrough for the home side when he had Duckett caught by KL Rahul after the openers had added 82 runs. Holden went seven overs later, giving Jalaj Saxena his first wicket in the second innings. 

Hain and Pope put up a 105-run partnership with the latter picking up 10 fours in his 122-ball knock. Hain was more restrained and his innings lasted 178 balls. Pope became the first of Shahbaz Nadeem’s victims, nicking one to wicketkeeper KS Bharat. The Lions lost two wickets before Steven Mullaney (3) and Will Jacks (13) knuckled down and denied India A. — PTI

Brief Scores: England Lions: 340 and 214/5 in 83 overs (Ollie Pope 63, Sam Hain 57; Jalaj Saxena 2/41); India A: 540/6 decl in 134.5 overs (Priyank Panchal 206, KS Bharat 142, KL Rahul 89; Zak Chappell 3/105).