FCG plays host to international fixtures this week
Sat 23 Jun 2018
The Fischer County Ground plays host to two international games as part of the Tri-Series between England Lions, India A and West Indies A this week.
England Lions, who has called the Worcestershire CCC all-rounder Ed Barnard into the squad for the remainder of the Tri-Series, are sitting pretty at the top of the table with four points from two matches.
Barnard, a 22-year-old who played for England at the 2014 ICC Under-19 World Cup and has been in excellent form for the Pears this season, replaces Craig Overton, who has a side injury.
The Lions need one more win in their remaining two matches – against India A in Leicester on Tuesday (11am start), or Windies A in Northampton on Thursday – to secure their place in the final at the Kia Oval on Monday week (July 2).
India A and West Indies meet in the next match in the series at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road tomorrow (Monday, 11am start).
Both teams are yet to register a point, although India A was in impressive form with bat and ball on the last occasion they played at the venue against a young Leicestershire Foxes side.
On Saturday, Sam Hain (pictured) hit a career-best unbeaten 145, then Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson combined to wreck the Windies A reply, as England Lions romped to a second impressive victory in consecutive days at the 3aaa County Ground in Derby.
After recording a seven-wicket win in the opening match of the A-team Tri-Series on Friday, the Lions chose to bat first on the same pitch, and Hain anchored a total of 318 for 5, in which Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Steven Mullaney also made half-centuries.
Then Jordan opened with a double wicket maiden, going on to take three for 25 from eight overs – perfect preparation before joining the senior England squad for Wednesday’s Vitality IT20 against Australia at Edgbaston.
Dawson, who had taken 4-30 against India, followed up with 4-27, setting a new best on home soil for a spinner for the Lions - or the England A or B teams who preceded them - for the second day running.
Tri-Series fixtures
June 22: Lions v India A (3aaa County Ground, Derby) – Lions won by seven wickets
June 23: Lions v West Indies A (3aaa County Ground, Derby) – Lions won by 87 runs
June 25: India A v West Indies A (Fischer County Ground, Leicester)
June 26: Lions v India A (Fischer County Ground, Leicester)
June 28: Lions v West Indies A (County Ground, Northampton)
June 29: India A v West Indies A (County Ground, Northampton)
July 2: Final (Kia Oval)
* Tickets to both games at the Fischer County Ground cost £5 adults and £1 for under 16s on the gate.
