IND A vs ENG Lions 2nd unofficial Test live score: Abhimanyu Easwaran's gritty 80 take India A to 163/4 on Day 3
India A strengthened their position against England Lions on the third day of the second unofficial Test in Northampton, reaching 163 for four in their second innings to extend their overall lead to 184 runs on Sunday.
After posting 348 in their first innings, India A bowled out the England Lions for 327, earning a slender but crucial 21-run lead. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, grabbing 4 for 70 in a fiery 19-over spell. Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj chipped in with two wickets each, while Tanush Kotian and Nitish Reddy claimed one apiece.
In the second innings, KL Rahul followed up his first-innings century with a fluent 51 off 64 balls, showcasing his class once again before being dismissed by Eddie Jack. Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran anchored the innings with a composed 80 from 92 deliveries, finding form after a first-innings duck.
IND A vs ENG Lions Test live score: Middle-order wobble leaves India A cautious at close
Following the dismissals of Rahul and Easwaran, India A’s middle order faced a testing period. Karun Nair, who had earlier scored a double hundred in the first match, joined Easwaran at the crease but couldn’t convert his start and fell to Woakes.
At stumps, India A were 163/4 with Dhruv Jurel (6) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1) at the crease.
With a lead of 184 runs going into the final day, the visitors will look to post a formidable target. However, with wickets falling at regular intervals, India A will be wary of another middle-order collapse and will depend on their lower order to capitalise on the platform laid by the top order.
India A vs England Lions Live score: Abhimanyu misses century but strengthens Test case
Abhimanyu Easwaran once again made a compelling case for a maiden Test call-up with an assured knock of 80. Coming in after Jaiswal’s early dismissal, the Bengal opener played with great composure and timing, striking nine boundaries and showing excellent judgement outside off. He appeared to be on course for a well-deserved century before edging a Chris Woakes outswinger to second slip, shortly after a brief delay due to bad light.
Easwaran’s consistent run this series has kept him firmly in the selectors’ radar, as he continues to stake a strong claim with both temperament and technique on display.
IND A vs ENG Lions 2nd unofficial Test live score: Tail-end resistance pushes England Lions past 300
Despite the top and middle order collapse, England Lions showed grit in the lower order, led by a dogged last-wicket stand between Josh Tongue and teenager Eddie Jack.
Tongue remained unbeaten on 36, while Jack, playing just his second first-class game, scored a gutsy 16 off 45 balls, including three boundaries. Their 48-run partnership frustrated India A and helped the visitors cross the 300-run mark.
India A tried everything, including taking the second new ball in the 81st over and bringing Khaleel back into the attack. However, it was Anshul Kamboj who finally broke the stand just before tea, finishing with figures of 2/56.
IND A vs ENG Lions Test live score: Khaleel Ahmed wrecks Lions’ middle order with lethal burst
Earlier in the day, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed spearheaded India A’s bowling attack with a fiery spell that derailed England Lions’ first innings.
The visitors had resumed on 192/3 but slumped to 266/8 by lunch, courtesy of Khaleel’s incisive burst. He struck twice in one over, removing England captain James Rew and George Hill with consecutive deliveries to start the collapse. He later added the wicket of Chris Woakes to his tally and ended with figures of 4/70.
Khaleel’s spell ensured India A gained a slender but vital 21-run first-innings lead, as the Lions were bowled out for 327 in the second session.
India A vs England Lions Live score: Rahul and Easwaran steady India A after early Jaiswal exit
India A closed the third day of the second unofficial Test against England Lions at 163/4, stretching their overall lead to 184 runs, thanks to strong contributions from KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran.
Despite losing Yashasvi Jaiswal early — caught behind for just 5 — Rahul and Easwaran stitched together an 88-run partnership that stabilised the innings.
Rahul, who had scored a century in the first innings, continued his impressive form with a fluent 51 off 64 balls, decorated with nine boundaries. Easwaran looked solid once again, reaching his second fifty of the tour, as the duo confidently tackled both pace and spin before falling to disciplined bowling spells.
