Easwaran, Rahul build India A's lead against England Lions on Day 3

K L Rahul

IMAGE: Abhimanyu Easwaran's fluent fifty helped India A stretch their lead against England Lions on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test. Photograph: ANI Photo

Abhimanyu Easwaran and K L Rahul hit half-centuries to build India's A lead on Day 3 of the second unofficial Test against England Lions at County Ground, Northampton, on Sunday.

Easwaran stroked a brisk 80 from 92 balls, with 10 boundaries, while Rahul, who hit a century in the first innings, carried on his good form as he made 51 from 64 balls.

England Lions struck with a couple of quick wickets before stumps to reduce India A to 163/4 in 33 overs, for an overall lead of 184 runs. Dhruv Jurel was unbeaten on six and Nitish Kumar Reddy on one at stumps on the third day.

Captain Easwaran fell in the penultimate over of the day, caught by Ben McKinney off the bowling of Chris Woakes, who also dismissed Karun Nair for 15.

Rahul failed to carry on after a bright start as he perished after scoring a half-century, caught by Josh Tongue off Eddei Jack's bowling.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal failed for the second time in the match, caught by James Rew off George Hill for five.

Khaleel Ahmed

IMAGE: Khaleel Ahmed ran through England Lions to hand India A a 27-run lead on Day 3 of the unofficial Test. Photograph: ANI Photo

Earlier, Khaleel Ahmed's splendid spell helped India A took a slender 27-run first innings lead.

Khaleel took 4/70 in 19 overs overs as England Lions were bowled out for 327 in 80 overs overs in the second session on the third day.

Josh Tongue scored a vital 36 not out, putting on 48 runs for the final wicket with Eddie Jack (16) to take England Lions past the 300-run mark. Anshul Kamboj finished off the innings when he dismissed Jack to register good figures of 2/56, while Tushar Deshpande bagged 2/62.

Emilio Gay top-scored for England Lions with 71 off 117 balls.

Resuming the day on 192/3, England Lions lost the wicket of the well-set Jordan Cox, who was caught behind off Khaleel for 45.

The left-arm pacer then struck a double blow when he dismissed James Rew (10) and George Hill (0) off successive deliveries in his 13th over.

In his next over, he accounted Chris Woakes, who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel for five.

Deshpande also got into the act, cleaning up bowled Max Holden for seven as England Lions lost five wickets for 74 runs in 25 overs in the morning session.

Nitish Reddy bagged his first wicket when he dismissed Farhan Ahmed for 24 in the post-lunch session.

India A had posted 348 in their first innings courtesy of K L Rahul's splendid knock of 116, while Dhruv Jurel stroked 52.