India A gained an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five matches one-day series against England Lions by winning the third match at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram in a low scoring encounter.
India A batted first after winning the toss and the decision came back to bite them as captain Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed on the first ball of the innings, out LBW for a golden duck.
KL Rahul, who was making a comeback into cricket after the suspension on him was lifted, managed just 13 runs, while others like Vihari (16) and Iyer (13) struggled on a spinning pitch.
Ishan Kishan (30) and Krunal Pandya (21) showed some defiance, and Deepak Chahar slammed 39 with 4 sixes and 1 four in 65 balls, to take India A to 172 in 47.1 overs.
For England Lions, Jamie Overton picked 3/34, while spinners Matthew Carter (2/23) and Will Jacks (2/33) were the wreckers in chief along with Lewis Gregory (2/25).
The total was a small one to chase, but the pitch had turned into a minefield and Akshar Patel dealt a telling blow, removing both openers Davies (0) and Jacks (1) for cheap. Then Krunal Pandya took over, picking 4/21, as only Ben Duckett (39 with 6 fours) and Ollie Pope (27) made over 20.
Navdeep Saini picked 2/21, as England capitulated for 112 in the 31st over, giving India A the win by 60 runs and India A went 3-0 up in the five-match One Day series.
Krunal Pandya was named Man of the Match for his 4/21 and innings of 21 runs.
BRIEF SCORES:
IND-A 172 (D CHAHAR 39; J OVERTON 3/34) defeated ENG LIONS (B DUCKETT 39; K PANDYA 4/21) by 60 runs
India A leads the 5-match series 3-0
