Hain century leads England Lions to victory over Cricket Australia XI

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Sam Hain's unbeaten century helped England Lions' tour of Australia get off to a winning start, with a six-wicket win over a Cricket Australia XI at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast.

Warwickshire's Hain and Sussex's Laurie Evans, on his Lions debut, shared a 154-run stand for the fourth wicket as England recovered  from 32 for three to chase down the target of 282.

Electing to bat first, CA XI lost Caleb Jewell in the first over, caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off the bowling of Craig Overton. Captain WIll Pucovski retired hurt on 23 and was replaced by Jake Lehmann, who joined the quick-scoring Max Bryant at the crease.

Bryant smashed 13 fours and five sixes in his 60-ball 102 before he became Brydon Carse's first wicket in England colours. The run-rate decreased with Bryant's wicket, with Lehmann and Bradley Hope adding 75 from the next 19 overs, but the lower order upped the scoring in the final overs to set the competitive total.

Spinners Mason Crane (one for 44) and Dan Lawrence (one for 35) conceded just 79 off their 20 overs. While the seamers proved more expensive, they each made a mark in the wickets column, with captain Lewis Gregory taking two and one each for Overton, Carse and Richard Gleeson.

In reply, England lost James Bracey in the first over, with Kohler-Cadmore and Tom Abell also falling in the first nine overs. Hain and Evans resurrected the innings, however, adding 154 in 29 overs before Evans was dismissed for 94 by Mitchell Perry.

Essex's Lawrence joined Hain at the crease and continued the the run chase, hitting 50 off 40 in a 99-run stand to take the Lions to victory.

QUOTES

Lewis Gregory: "It's great to get the tour off to a winning start, which will hopefully set the tone for the next four white-ball matches.

"Credit to our spinners today, who really tied down the Australian batsmen in the middle order after a frenetic start to the innings.

"Then, Sam played the perfect innings to help us to victory, batting beautifully with Laurie and Dan to take us comfortably to the target."