England Lions – 553-8d (Keaton Jennings, 154; Matthew Potts, 4-30) & 163-6d (Keaton Jennings, 64; Callum Parkinson, 3-182)
India A – 227-10 (Rajat Patidar, 151; Manav Suthar, 4-137) & 426-5 (KS Bharat, 116*; Pradosh Paul, 2-23)
KS Bharat’s Heroic Century Saves India A from Defeat Against England Lions
India A’s batting unit put on a valiant display to draw the first unofficial Test against England Lions, thanks to a fighting century from wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat. Despite 490-run chase, India A were staring down the barrel of defeat at 242/7 before Bharat took the center stage.
Bharat, who was dropped on 22 by Tom Kohler-Cadmore, went on to score a magnificent 116 from 222 balls, his innings laced with 12 fours and a six. He found able support from Saurabh Wakaskar (38) and Navdeep Saini (26) as India A narrowed the gap to 47 runs at one stage.
However, with just 19 runs needed and two wickets in hand, India A lost both Saini and Bharat in quick succession, raising England Lions’ hopes of a win. But the last pair of Ishan Porel and Mukesh Kumar held their nerve to see India A through to safety, finishing the match on 456/9.
Bharat’s knock was the cornerstone of India A’s fightback
Bharat’s knock was the cornerstone of India A’s fightback. He played with patience and determination, defying the England Lions bowlers on a difficult pitch. His innings was a mix of grit and class, and he showed immense composure under pressure.
“It was a very challenging pitch to bat on,” Bharat said after the match. “The ball wasn’t coming on nicely, and the bowlers were bowling good lines and lengths. But I just kept my head down and tried to bat time. I am glad that I could contribute to the team’s cause.”
The draw was a creditable result for India A
The draw was a creditable result for India A, considering the magnitude of the chase. They were without the services of some of their key players, who are away on national duty, but the young guns showed that they have the talent to compete at the highest level.
“I am very proud of the way the boys played,” said India A coach Rahul Dravid. “They showed a lot of character and determination. Chasing 490 was always going to be difficult, but they never gave up hope. Bharat’s innings was outstanding, and he deserves all the credit for saving the match for us.”
Here are some of the key takeaways from the match:
- KS Bharat’s century was the match-winning innings for India A.
- The draw was a creditable result for India A, considering the magnitude of the chase.
- The young guns of India A showed that they have the talent to compete at the highest level.
This match was a thriller, and it is a sign of things to come from the India A vs England Lions series. The next match is scheduled to start on January 24, and it promises to be another exciting encounter.
