CHAPPELL TAKES WICKETS BUT LIONS FACE CHALLENGE TO SAVE SECOND ‘TEST’ AGAINST INDIA A

Nottinghamshire’s Zak Chappell took three wickets on day two, but England Lions face a battle to save the second unofficial Test against India A, having been asked to follow on after being bowled out for 144 in reply to the home side’s 392.

The day started very positively for the Lions, taking the final seven Indian wickets for 110 runs. Zak Chappell put in another excellent spell to remove Karun Nair, Siddhesh Lad and Jalej Saxena in the space of five overs to take his tally to four wickets in the innings and seven in the series.

“The pitch did a bit early on and we had the new ball, which was good, so there was a little bit in the pitch for the seamers”, said Chappell.

“Naturally, as the ball got older it started not to swing as much and when the pitch dried up in the heat the spinners became more useful. It wasn’t doing anything drastic, but it was mostly moving in the morning."

Danny Briggs also picked up three wickets, including dangerman KS Bharat, who fell lbw to the Sussex left-arm spinner for 46.

England, though, couldn’t take the momentum into their innings, losing wickets regularly in their innings of 144. Ollie Pope (25) was the only batsman to pass 20 before he was bowled by a Navdeep Saini delivery that moved a long way off the pitch to remove his middle stump.

“You have to be disciplined here", said Chappell. "They’re good batters so if you bowl bad balls they will put them away for four. It’s the same with any wicket – if you hit a good line and length to dry them up then you’re in with a good chance of getting wickets.

“The bowlers bowled well overall, and the Indians played well. Our batters are learning quickly out here in foreign conditions that they’re not used to. The wickets are very different in that they’re very slow. You do have to be diligent on your line and length and make the most of the new ball.