England Lions claim consolation one-wicket win over India A
Thursday 31 January 2019 11:18, UK
England Lions claimed a narrow one-wicket win over India A in their final one-day match in Kerela.
Ben Duckett struck an unbeaten 70 as the visitors chased down their target of 122 in 30.3 overs to come out on top in a thrilling low-scoring match but it was only a consolation victory as the Lions lost the five-match series 4-1.
Earlier, Jamie Overton has taken 3-24 and Tom Bailey claimed 2-23 as the hosts were skittled out for 121 in 35 overs, Siddhesh Lad top-scoring with 36.
Having been asked to bowl, Lewis Gregory bowled KL Rahul with the first ball of the match before Bailey trapped Himmat Singh (3) lbw and then had captain Ankit Bawne caught for a 17-ball duck.
Somerset bowler Overton then struck twice in three balls, taking a return catch to dismiss Rishabh Pant for seven and bringing an end to Lad's counter-attack when he was caught behind, as the home side slumped to 48-5.
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Axar Patel (23) and Deepak Chahar (21) offered some resistance, putting on 30 runs for the eighth wicket before the latter was caught behind off Stephen Mullaney and India A then slumped to 121 all out, as Patel and Rahul Chahar were run out.
The Lions reply was no less eventful with Deepak Chahar dismissing openers Will Jacks (6) and Alex Davies (1) and Shardul Thakur had Sam Hain caught behind for 12 as the visitors collapsed to 32-3.
However, Duckett played a gritty innings - hitting 10 fours and a six - being the only batsman managing to get bat on ball with his partners attempted support the Nottinghamshire batter from the other end.
The next six Lions players all falling for single figures - with Deepak Chahar taking 3-25 and Rahul Chahar picking up 3-43 - but Bailey (1 off 11 balls) kept India A's bowlers at bay long enough to allow Duckett to strike the winning runs in the 31st over.
