Bhardwaj Sai Sudharsan underlined his growing status as a prolific top batsman with a hundred against England Lions as India A moved into a strong position on the third day of their third unofficial 'Test' on Saturday. Sudharsan made 117 off 240 balls as India A made 409 in their second innings, giving them an overall lead of 402 runs. Chasing 403 for an unlikely win, the Lions are 83 for two in their second innings at stumps.
Opener Alex Lees watches for an unbeaten 41.
They need another 320 runs on the final day to win and level the series, which the hosts now lead 1-0.
And despite all that, India A, having resumed from 148 to three, had to thank Sudharsan who built substantially on his 54 overnight.
Indian left-hander Rinku Singh made a 25-ball 38 with five fours and a six as India gained early momentum in the first session.
Sudharsan and Rinku put on 55 runs for the fourth wicket stand.
Pacer Matthew Fisher ended Rinku's stay by castling him. But the home side got more advantage through Sudharsan and Kumar Kushagra, who added 81 runs for the fifth wicket.
Sudharsan, who hit 16 fours during his innings, failed to convert his fifty into a hundred this time. The 22-year-old Tamil Nadu batsman had made a 97 against the Lions in the previous Test.
His effort was in stark contrast to the performances of his opening partner and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran as he managed to score just fifty (58) in five innings against the Lions in this series.
But he fell to Fisher and gave a catch to wicketkeeper Olle Robinson.
India were 320 at the time but found two willing soldiers in Saransh Jain (63, 102 balls) and Akash Deep (31, 47 balls) as they realized 60 runs for the eighth wicket association to close the gap between their team and the visitors.
Jain later returned to make more impact as Lions batted as the off-spinner jettisoned the in-form Keaton Jennings (27) and Oliver Price (11) to give them an early shock.
Short scores: India A: 192 and 409 all out in 107.1 overs (Sai Sudharsan 117, Saransh Jain 63, Kumar Kushagra 40, Rinku Singh 38, Tilak Varma 46, Akash Deep 31; James Coles 3/140, Dan Mousley 3/43 ) vs England Lions: 199 and 83/2 in 24 overs (Alex Lees 41 batting; Saransh Jain 2/16).
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