McKinney’s brilliant century goes in vain as Australia A secures a dominant win.©(@cricketcomau )
England Lions suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Australia A, losing by innings and 10 runs in their final unofficial Test match of the tour in Sydney. Despite a spirited century from Ben McKinney, the visitors were comprehensively outplayed over three days at Cricket Central in Wilson Park.
Resuming their second innings on day three at 116-2, still trailing by 141 runs after following on, England Lions pinned their hopes on McKinney to mount a fightback. The 20-year-old Durham left-hander, who started the day unbeaten on 67, reached his second first-class century at a run-a-ball pace. His impressive knock of 110, which included well-timed strokes and resilience under pressure, offered a brief glimmer of hope. However, his dismissal at 164, caught by Xavier Bartlett off Aaron Hardie, triggered a rapid collapse.
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With McKinney back in the pavilion, England struggled to build meaningful partnerships. Matty Hurst displayed resistance with a determined 35, while Rocky Flintoff chipped in with a gritty 21. However, no other batter crossed double figures as Australia A’s bowling attack maintained relentless pressure. Jordan Buckingham emerged as the chief tormentor for the hosts, claiming 4-41 in a clinical spell of seam bowling.
England’s batting frailties were evident throughout the match, starting from their first-innings total of just 116, in response to Australia A’s imposing 373-9 declared. The Australian innings had been built around a commanding century from Kurtis Patterson, who anchored the hosts with a well-crafted 137. England’s bowlers found some success, with Sam Cook returning figures of 3-58, but the total proved far beyond the reach of the Lions.
This defeat marked the end of the England Lions’ three-match red-ball series in Australia. Their tour began with a seven-wicket loss in Brisbane, where McKinney was also a standout performer with a fighting 94. The second match saw a much-improved effort as 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff’s remarkable century secured a hard-fought draw. Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder and current Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, impressed with his temperament and technique against a formidable Australian attack.
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While McKinney’s performances have been a significant positive for the Lions, the overall series highlighted the team’s struggles against high-quality opposition in Australian conditions. With the red-ball leg of the tour now concluded, England will look to regroup and reflect on their performances as they shift focus to white-ball fixtures in the coming weeks.