Pacer Matthew Fisher shines as India 'A' batsmen falter in unofficial Test against England Lions

Sport360 staff 00:45 18/07/2018
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  • Chris Woakes made an encouraging return to first-class action, but it was Matthew Fisher who impressed most with the ball for England Lions against India A on day two of the four-day encounter at Blackfinch New Road.

    Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes, who suffered quadricep and knee injuries during the second Test against Pakistan last month, made a Second XI comeback for his county last week, but this was his first major opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the forthcoming Test series against India.

    The 29-year-old was the fifth bowler used and sent down seven successive overs at a lively pace for a cost of 16 runs and with no apparent ill-effects.

    However, it was Fisher who was rewarded for a testing initial six-over spell which brought him the wickets of Mayank Agarwal and India A skipper Karun Nair on a day of contrasting fortunes to Monday.

    Prithvi Shaw top-scored for the visitors with 62.

    Prithvi Shaw top-scored for the visitors with 62.

    The lions had resumed on 310 for two but, under cloudier skies, batting was a different and more challenging proposition on Tuesday and their last eight wickets went down for 113 in 40.5 overs.

    They were all out for 423, England Test opener Alastair Cook having advanced from his overnight 154 to 180 when he was bowled via the inside edge by Ankit Rajpoot.

    Dawid Malan, released from the senior one-day international squad to get in some red-ball practice before the first Test, added only 15 to his overnight 59 before playing on to Mohammed Siraj. Paceman Siraj went wicketless on day one but ended with figures of four for 79.

    Only Prithvi Shaw (62) then passed the half-century mark for the tourists, who closed on 144 for four.

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