Leeds: India A began their UK tour on a promising note as they thrashed England Cricket Board XI (ECBXI) by 125 runs following half centuries from captain Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan.
The trio of Shaw (70, 61b, 7×3, 3×6), Iyer (54, 45b, 5×4, 1×6) and Kishan (50, 46, 4×4, 2×6) helped India A amass 328 for eight before the bowlers dismissed ECB XI for 203 in 36.5 overs. Pacer Deepak Chahar (3/48) was the pick of the bowlers.
This was the visitors’ first game of the tour ahead of the 50-over tri-series, involving England Lions and West Indies, from June 22. India A will also play two unofficial Tests against West Indies A and one against England Lions in July.
Sent into bat first, India A lost opener Mayank Agarwal (four) cheaply but his opening partner Shaw was in good touch playing fours and sixes round the park.
Iyer and Kishan then shared a 99-run stand before medium pacer Ryan Higgins (4/50) removed them off successive balls in the 39th over.
Kishan, who was a last-minute replacement to Sanju Samson, pounced on the opportunity with a fine innings comprising four fours and two sixes. Samson was forced out of the squad after he failed the fitness test.
Krunal Pandya (34) and Axar Patel (28 n o) came up with the big hits in the death overs, pushing India A beyond 300-run mark.
ECB XI’s challenged fizzled out after Ben Slater (37) and Will Jacks (28) departed in quick succession, leaving the home team at 107 for four in 17 overs. Matt Critchley (40) was the top scorer for the home team.
Brief scores: Ind A 328/ in 50 overs (Shaw 70, Iyer 54, Kishan 50; Chahar 3/48, Axar Patel 2/21) beat ECB XI 203 all out in 36.5 overs (Matt Critchley 40; Deepak Chahar 3/48) by 125 runs.