NEW DELHI: India A spinners showcased their dominance, guiding their team to a comprehensive 134-run victory over England Lions on the fourth day of the third and final unofficial 'Test' in an impressive display.
Chasing an imposing target of 403 runs, England Lions faced a challenging task and succumbed to the pressure, ultimately being bowled out for 268 in their second innings. This result secured India A's triumph in the three-match series with a 2-0 lead.
Mumbai left-arm spinner Shams Mulani played a pivotal role, claiming five wickets for 60 runs, while Madhya Pradesh off-spinner Saransh Jain provided valuable support with figures of 3/50. Together, they dismantled the England Lions' batting order as the visitors struggled to build a substantial partnership.
The fourth day began with England Lions resuming their innings at 83 for two, needing an unlikely 403 runs for victory. Opener Alex Lees, starting the day on 41, managed to complete his fifty but fell victim to Mulani's precision, being trapped in front for 55.
As wickets tumbled, Mulani continued to wreak havoc, dismissing Lions' skipper Josh Bohannon (18) and Dan Mousley (5). The Lions found themselves at 140 for seven, facing an uphill battle.
However, a spirited fightback emerged in the form of a resilient partnership between wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson and James Coles. The duo added 104 runs for the eighth wicket, injecting a sense of competitiveness into the proceedings.
Robinson's innings, featuring 80 runs off 105 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes, kept England Lions' hopes alive. Coles contributed a valuable 31 runs off 58 balls. Despite their efforts, Mulani broke the partnership, dismissing Coles with a leg-before appeal.
Jain delivered the final blows, dismantling Robinson's stumps and bringing an end to the Lions' innings, ultimately securing India A's convincing series victory. The Lions' entertaining fightback was not enough to prevent the Indian spinners from asserting their dominance, clinching the series 2-0.
Brief scores: India A: 192 & 409 beat England Lions: 199 & 268 all out in 72.4 overs (Ollie Robinson 81, Alex Lees 55, James Coles 31; Shams Mulani 5/60, Saransh Jain 3/50) by 134 runs.
(With inputs from PTI)The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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