AUSTRALIA A has ended the England Lions’ tour down under with an innings and 10-run thumping in their unofficial Test match at Cricket Central over the weekend. The hosts were sent in and declared on 9-373 before skittling England for 116 and enforcing the follow-on.

>> SCROLL to see the final scorecard

Kurtis Patterson continued his remarkable turnaround in form, staking his claim for future international honours with a first innings dig of 137 (231). Batting at first drop, the left-hander entered the crease after just five deliveries and posted a 174-run stand with Jayden Goodwin (70 off 177) for the second wicket.

Patterson’s day one ton was followed by Josh Philippe, who was the other of just three Australian batters to manage a double-figure score. The new ball helped England enact a 5-37 collapse after the home side passed 300 with Sam Cook (3-58) and Sonny Baker (3-60) doing the damage.

In reply, the tourists lost two wickets in the first three overs and slumped to 3-30. They went on to lose their last six wickets for just 10 runs to be bowled out within 38 overs. Forced to follow on at 257 runs in arrears, the Lions got to stumps on day two at 2-116, still 141 runs behind the ledger.

Opener Ben McKinney’s run-a-ball 110 proved the sole form of resistance as England managed 247 in its second dig. Matty Hurst (35), Alex Davies (28), and Rocky Flintoff (21) all got starts against the bowler-heavy Australian XI, but their contributions proved far from enough.

After going wicketless in the first innings, Jordan Buckingham (4-41) spearheaded the innings victory, while allrounders Aaron Hardie (3-25) and Will Sutherland (2-32) accentuated their side’s seam depth. Sutherland also nabbed 3-7 in the previous innings, as Brendan Doggett took 3-17.

The first class match marked the last of England’s three four-day games in Australia. Under coach Andrew Flintoff, the Lions lost their first outing by seven wickets against the Cricket Australia XI, then drew against the same side before their more recent loss to Australia A.

SCORECARD

RESULT: Aus A won by an innings & 10 runs
TOSS: England Lions won & elected to bowl

1st Innings: Australia A 9d-373 (98)
Kurtis Patterson 137 (231), Josh Philippe 120* (121), Jayden Goodwin 70 (177)
Sam Cook 3-58 (21), Sonny Baker 3-60 (18), Dillon Pennington 2-72 (21)

2nd Innings: England Lions 10-116 (37.3)
Matty Hurst 33 (70), Rocky Flintoff 29 (51), Ben McKinney 26 (20)
Will Sutherland 3-7 (5), Brendan Doggett 3-17 (7), Fergus O’Neill 2-19 (8.3)

England Lions trailed by 257 runs.
Follow-on enforced

3rd Innings: England Lions 10-247 (67.1)
Ben McKinney 110 (110), Matty Hurst 35 (72), Alex Davies 28 (55)
Jordan Buckingham 4-41 (10), Aaron Hardie 3-25 (10), Will Sutherland 2-32 (8.1)

Australia A won by an innings & 10 runs.