Mysuru: Young leg-spinner Mayank Markande scalped five wickets to steer India ‘A’ to a series-clinching innings and 68-run win over England Lions in the second and final unofficial Test, here on Friday.
Markande (5 for 31) spun a web around the visitors to bowl them out for 180 in the second innings on the third day of the four-day match. England were following on. Resuming at 24 for no loss and faced with the daunting task of handling the Indian spinners on a turning wicket, the Lions’ batsmen came a cropper with only Ben Duckett (50) and Lewis Gregory (44) showing some fight.
Besides Markande, Jalaj Saxena (2/40) claimed two wickets. The 21-year old Markande, who performed creditably for Mumbai Indians in the IPL last year, troubled most of the England batsmen with his guile. The talented Ollie Pope was Markande’s first victim, trapped leg-before. But opener Duckett mixed caution with aggression in an effort to defy the India ‘A’ bowlers. He hit four boundaries and two sixes in his half-century and was involved in a 40-run partnership with fellow opener Max Holden (7).
Off-spinner Saxena struck the first blow for the hosts, dismissing Holden leg-before wicket. He also dismissed Duckett in the same manner.
Markande, who plays for Punjab in domestic cricket, took over and had the Lions batsmen in a spin, getting a lot of turn on a wearing wicket. He removed Steve Mullaney, Dominic Bess and Zak Chappell in quick succession as the Lions capitulated.
Brief scores: India ‘A’ 392 bt England Lions 144 & 180 in 53.3 overs (Ben Duckett 50, Lewis Gregory 44; Mayank Markande 5/31).
