The India-A batsmen’s vulnerability against the red ball in foreign conditions was exposed as England Lions handed the visitors a 254-run defeat in the one-off unofficial Test on day four here on Thursday.
India-A, which was reeling at 11 for three at stumps on day three while chasing an improbable 421-run target, folded up for 167 in 44 overs. It had struggled to 197 in the first essay after Lions made 423.
The sole silver lining for India-A was that Ajinkya Rahane and rookie Risabh Pant got to spend some valuable time in the middle ahead of the five-Test series against England, beginning in Birmingham on August 1.
Making a mark
Pant made a mark against a potent pace attack comprising four Test players, with a 58 and 61, while Rahane, too, spent some time at the crease, having scored 49 and 48 in the two innings.
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 Pant perished after a quickfire knock, it was all over.
The scores:
England Lions 423 & 194 for five decl. bt India-A 197 & 167 in 44 overs (Rahane 48, Pant 61) .
