Riding their quality form in white-ball cricket, Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer smashed half-centuries in India A’s thumping win over England Cricket Board (ECB) XI in their first tour match at Headingly on Sunday.

After having invited to bat first, Shaw, who played for North Mumbai Panthers in T20 Mumbai, stroked a boundary off the second ball he faced and went on to score a brisk 70 at a strike rate of 114, with 46 runs off boundaries alone.

“In England, Rahul (Dravid) Sir had advised us to play closer to the body and to be careful of the wind as well,” Shaw explained his showcase knock.

Batting at number 4, SoBo Supersonics’ Icon Player Shreyas Iyer made a stroke-full 45-ball 54 which comprised five 4s and one maximum. Along with Ishan Kishan, Iyer stitched a crucial 99-run stand for the fifth wicket that took the India A to a sumptuous total of 328 in their 50 overs. 

In reply, ECB XI kept losing wickets at regular intervals as Deepak Chahar claimed three scalps in the match. Iyer also inflicted a run-out and the hosts were all out for 203.

India A’s second tour game is against Leicestershire on Tuesday after which they begin the all-important tri-series involving England Lions and West Indies A. After having gotten off to a flyer and with an eye on the 2019 ICC 50-over World Cup also hosted by England, both Shaw and Iyer would be hoping to continue their purple patch with the bat in the remaining tour.