England Lions close in on India A with 527/7, trailing by just 30 runs

England Lions are closing the gap on India A after a stellar batting display at Canterbury, reaching 527/7 and trailing by just 30 runs in their second innings.

The innings was anchored by a monumental 175 from Tom Haines, supported by centuries from Dan Mousley (113) and Max Holden (101). The Haines-Holden partnership alone contributed a crucial 181 runs for the third wicket, setting the foundation for the chase.

Despite India A's mammoth first innings total of 557, England Lions' batsmen showed resilience and skill, steadily eroding the deficit. The hosts scored 290 runs on Sunday, highlighting their dominance on the day.

India A's bowling attack struggled to contain the Lions, with seamer Mukesh Kumar's 3/75 in 21 overs being the only notable performance. The rest of the bowling effort was described as mediocre, allowing England to build momentum.

Brief scores reflect the competitive nature of the match: England Lions at 527/7 (Haines 175, Mousley 113, Holden 101) trail India A's 557 (Karun Nair 204, Dhruv Jurel 94, Sarfaraz Khan 92).

With the Lions closing in on the target, the contest remains finely poised, promising an exciting conclusion as England aims to surpass India A's imposing total.

"The Haines-Holden 181-run stand for the third wicket was the cornerstone of England Lions innings," a key factor in their strong position.

"Seamer Mukesh Kumar’s (3/75 in 21 overs) morning spell with the old Dukes was the only highlight in an otherwise mediocre bowling effort from India here on Sunday," underscoring the challenges faced by India A's bowlers.

England Lions closed in on India A with a commanding 527/7, trailing by just 30 runs in their second innings at Canterbury. Centuries from Tom Haines (175), Dan Mousley (113), and Max Holden (101) powered the chase, while Mukesh Kumar took 3/75 for India A.