India vs Leicestershire: Visitors take 82-run second innings lead on Day 2 of practice game

Leicestershire were bundled out for 244 in their first-innings reply to India’s 246/8d on Day 2 of the practice match ahead of India’s fifth Test against England in July. India were 80/1 at stumps in their second-innings reply, having lost Shubman Gill (38). Srikar Bharat, who scored an unbeaten 70 in the first innings, remained unbeaten on 31 with Hanuma Vihari (9) at the other end. Rishabh Pant stole the show with a knock of 76 to help Leicestershire post 244 on board in the first innings. Pant’s knock consisted of 14 fours and a six. Watch the match LIVE here:

Earlier, wickets at regular intervals hurt Leicestershire who surpassed 100 runs for the loss of four wickets. Mohammed Shami struck twice to remove Sam Evans and Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara was dismissed for a duck and Shami celebrated the dismissal by giving the batter a hug. The hosts then lost Louis Kimber and Joey Evison to sit at 71/4. However, vital knocks from Rishi Patel (34) and Roman Walker (34) kept the hosts in the hunt and edge closer to India’s total.

☝️ | 𝐏𝐮𝐣𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐛 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢.

A second wicket for Shami. He dismisses his @BCCI teammate, as Pujara drags on.

Evison joins Kimber (28*).

🦊 LEI 34/2

𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌: https://t.co/APL4n65NFa 👈

🦊 #IndiaTourMatch | #LEIvIND | #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/ANf2NfhUAy

— Leicestershire CCC 🦊 (@leicsccc) June 24, 2022

The practice match is a part of India’s preparations for the rescheduled fifth Test against England which starts 1 July in Birmingham. The Test series is a continuation from August-September last year with India leading 2-1. The series was halted following multiple COVID-19 cases within the Indian camp.