India A bowlers put on a disappointing show in third session as Dan Mousley (113) hit a century as England Lions reached 527 for 7 at stumps on Day 3 of the 1st Unofficial Test at Canterbury on Sunday.
The Lions now trail by just 30 runs as Mousley hit his maiden first class ton, in a game that is inching towards a draw.
Shardul Thakur (1/90 in 21 overs) struck just after tea to remove centurion Tom Haines for 171. Sarfaraz Khan, who was positioned at slightly wide of first slip, dived full stretch to his left to take a one-handed stunner off an over-pitched delivery to deny Haines a double ton.
But Mousley and Zaman Akhtar kept the scoreboard moving. Akhtar took a liking to Harsh Dubey and hammered him for a few fours and even took a six off him.
Reddy (0/57 in 11 overs) failed to trouble the batters and with none of the bowlers able to get more wickets, captain Abhimanyu Easwaran gave Sarfaraz and Karun Nair an over each at the fag end and Nair removed Mousley for 113 off the final ball of the day.
Earlier, England Lions recovered post lunch after Tom Haines hit an unbeaten 171 and each 413 for 5 against India A at tea.
Haines staged a fightback with Dan Mousley (48 batting) and together they stitched an unbroken 87-run partnership for the sixth wicket to reduce the deficit to 144 runs.
The 2nd session saw the India A bowlers struggle to trouble the batters, going wicketless post lunch.
India A pacer Mukesh Kumar made early inroads on Day 3.
Earlier, Mukesh bowled with venom, taking three wickets to help India crawl back into the contest as England Lions stumbled to 333 for five at lunch on Day 3.
Overnight batter Max Holden was Mukesh's first victim of the morning, an hour after day's play.
Holden was removed just after completing his 99-ball century as he hung his bat outside the off-stump to be caught behind by Dhruv Jurel.
Just four overs later, Mukesh, bowling with fire, then had Lions's skipper James Rew trapped leg before for 8.
Mukesh then had Rehan Ahmed caught by Sarfaraz for 3 as Lions lost half their side.
Overnight centurion Tom Haines (142, 208 balls) is at the crease with Dan Mousley (2).
Brief Scores: India A: 1st Innings 557 vs England Lions: 1st Innings 527/7 in 124 overs (Tom Haines 171, Max Holden 101, Dan Mousley 113, Mukesh Kumar 3/75). PTI KHS KHS
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