England Lions suffer 112-run defeat to Australia A in Brisbane; James Bracey completes century on final day before tourists bowled out for 347; off-spinner Dom Bess takes six wickets in the match and may be a contender for a place in England's Ashes side
Sunday 12 December 2021 08:49, UK
England Lions followed their senior counterparts by suffering a weekend defeat in Brisbane as Australia A ran out 112-run winners on the fourth and final day at Ian Healy Oval.
A day after England slumped to a nine-wicket loss to Australia in the Ashes opener at The Gabba, the Lions were bowled out for 347 in their second innings having been set a mammoth 460 to win.
Gloucestershire's James Bracey top-scored with 113, while Lancashire's Josh Bohannon (51) and Surrey's Ben Foakes (73) also passed fifty.
Bracey shared a 95-run stand with Bohannon for the fourth wicket to lift the Lions from 77-3 to 172-3 and then, after Bohannon and Harry Brook (1) fell in quick succession, Bracey added 111 with Foakes as their side progressed to 285-5.
The Lions then lost their last five wickets for 62 runs, with the dismissal of Liam Norwell condemning England's second string to defeat in Queensland.
The Lions were on the back foot since being bowled out for 103 in their first innings - Bohannon top-scoring with 22 - and they were set a huge fourth-innings target after Australia declared their second innings on 349-4.
Off-spinner Dom Bess took six wickets in the match, including 4-80 in Australia A's first innings of 213 all out.
The Yorkshire bowler could be a candidate to come into England's Ashes XI for the second Test in Adelaide with fellow spinner Jack Leach suffering a chastening game at The Gabba.
Leach was smashed for 102 runs from the 13 overs he bowled in Australia's first innings.
The Adelaide Test, which is a day-night encounter, starts on Thursday.
