Duckett double-ton as Lions smash records

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Ben Duckett and Daniel Bell-Drummond put on an unbroken 367 for the second wicket – Getty Images

ESPNcricinfo: Ben Duckett and Daniel Bell-Drummond smashed their way into the record books with the second-highest List A partnership in the world as England Lions cruised to a 140-run win over Sri Lanka A at Canterbury.

Duckett had made 163 not out in the first match of the tri-series last week and his unbeaten 220 here set a new record for an England Lions player - topping captain Dawid Malan’s 185 against the same opposition on Thursday. Duckett shared in an unbeaten 367-run partnership with Bell-Drummond, from only 232 balls, as the Kent opener recorded his maiden List A ton.

The partnership was the highest ever at Canterbury - a record held by England’s Eoin Morgan and Nick Compton since 2009 - and just to make sure of their place in history, the Lions also recorded the highest List A score at the Spitfire Ground.

England won the toss and chose to bat, with Malan’s the only England wicket falling. He was stumped for 23 off 31 balls by Niroshan Dickwella, providing Ramith Rambukwella with Sri Lanka A’s solitary bowling success of the day.

Before the match Malan had spoken to the team of adaptability, both with the bat and ball - something which had already won the tri-series for the Lions following Sunday’s victory over Pakistan A. Toby Roland-Jones and George Garton were the only changes from the that match, replacing Mark Wood, who had returned to Durham, and Sam Curran.

But it took England’s bowling attack 14 overs before they took their first wicket, when Dickwella was caught by Sam Billings from a George Garton delivery with the score on 105. That was quickly followed by the dismissal of Sri Lanka A’s other opener, Mahela Udawatte for 40, in the same over.

Angelo Perera led Sri Lanka A’s fightback with a score of 69 before being caught by Duckett from a Saqib Mahmood delivery. Rambukwella was also dismissed by Mahmood, caught by Tom Curran.

Garton added to his wicket haul for the day by bowling Thisara Perera and Sachith Pathirana for 45 and 18 respectively. The four wickets from Garton, with two from Liam Dawson and one each for Malan and Brett D’Oliveira ensured Sri Lanka were all out for 285, giving England a huge win.