In a gripping display of resilience and skill, India A tightened their grip over England Lions on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test at Northampton. By stumps on Sunday, India A had reached 163 for 4 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to a commanding 184 runs. With two days remaining, the visitors are poised to push for a decisive victory if they can build on this advantage.
The day began with India A holding a slender 21-run lead after posting 348 in their first innings and bundling out England Lions for 327. Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed was the architect of England’s collapse, tormenting the batsmen with a fiery spell of 4 for 70 in 19 overs. His pace and movement dismantled the middle order, while Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj supported with two wickets each. Spinners Tanush Kotian and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy also chipped in with a scalp apiece, ensuring England Lions fell short despite a fighting effort.
In their second innings, India A faced an early setback when young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a mere 5 by seamer George Hill. However, the experienced duo of KL Rahul and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran steadied the ship with a crucial partnership. Rahul, fresh off a sublime century in the first innings, played with characteristic flair to score a brisk 51 off 64 balls before falling to Eddie Jack. Easwaran, who had endured a duck in the first innings, found his rhythm with a composed and gritty 80 off 92 balls, anchoring the innings with determination. His knock, laced with 9 boundaries, was a testament to his leadership under pressure.
England Lions fought back late in the day through seasoned campaigner Chris Woakes, who claimed the key wickets of Easwaran and Karun Nair (15), keeping his team in contention. At stumps, Dhruv Jurel (6*) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1*) remained unbeaten, with India A eyeing a lead beyond 300 runs on Day 4 to set up a challenging target.
For England Lions, the first innings saw gritty contributions from Emilio Gay, who top-scored with 71, alongside Tom Haines (54) and Jordan Cox (45). A late cameo from Josh Tongue, who remained unbeaten on 36, ensured the hosts got tantalizingly close to India A’s total but couldn’t surpass it. With the ball, England will rely on Woakes and Tongue to exploit early morning conditions on Monday and restrict India A’s growing dominance.
As the match heads into its penultimate day, all eyes will be on whether India A can capitalize on their position or if England Lions can stage a dramatic comeback. With talents like Jurel and Reddy at the crease, and the pitch offering variable bounce, this unofficial Test promises an enthralling finish. Stay tuned for more updates as the battle unfolds!