ENGLAND Lions’ bowlers made inroads into the India A batting at Worcester today after former national side captain Alastair Cook was eventually dismissed for 180.

The Essex opener found his touch off 268 balls with 26 fours at Blackfinch New Road as Lions opened the four-day clash with 423 all out.

Dawid Malan weighed in with 74 and Nick Gubbins 73 before India A were reduced to 144-4 in their first innings on the second day.

Opener Prithvi Shaw kept the tourists afloat with 62 before he was caught by Malan off Sam Curran.

But Murali Vijay (8), Mayank Agarwal (0) and captain Karun Nair (4) departed quickly as Matt Fisher took two wickets and Jamie Porter one.

Ajinkya Rahane and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant finished the day unbeaten on 26 and 37 respectively to leave India trailing Lions by 279 runs with six wickets left.