England Lions top-order batter Emilio Gay top-scored with a half-century for England Lions on the first day of their four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI in Perth.
Emilio Gay leads England Lions batting effort against Cricket Australia XI
Gay was the only batter to cross 50 for the England development side after they chose to bat first at Lilac Hill. Openers Ben McKinney and Tom Haines put on 72 before McKinney was bowled by 20-year-old leggie Jake Scott.
That brought Gay to the crease, with the Durham batter keeping one end firm while wickets fell at regular intervals from the other. Haines was out for 38 before Ben Kellaway was out for seven five overs later. Jordan Cox made a quick-fire 40 before he too was dismissed, giving Jack Sinfield his second wicket of the day. His wicket left the Lions teetering at 178-4.
However, Gay and Matt Revis came together to stabilise the innings. Their partnership reached 48 before Gay was bowled by ambidextrous finger spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan. Revis was dismissed in the following over for 20, before 17-year-old Thomas Rew fell for 13 and Eddie Jack was bowled by Caelen Maladay for four, with the Lions eventually bowled out for 299.
In response, the Cricket Australia XI batted 12 overs and made 58-1, led by Australia international Josh Inglis' 40.
Who is Emilio Gay?
Among the Lions squad are a number of top order options touring Australia at the same time as the senior squads contest the Ashes. In the opening Test match happening only a few miles away from Lilac Hill in Perth today, Zak Crawley was dismissed for a duck in the first over of the series, and Ben Duckett was trapped lbw by Mitchell Starc for for a 20-ball 21. Ollie Pope was the second-highest scorer of England's innings, falling four runs short of a half-century as England were bowled out for 172 in 32.5 overs.
Gay was Durham's leading run-scorer in the County Championship this year. He finished the season with an average of 45.42 and scored four centuries. He was one of a select few of the England Lions squad who were picked to play in England's only warm-up game ahead of the Ashes, but was out to Josh Tongue after scoring one run from six balls at the crease.
After starting his career at Northants, Gay joined Durham after a spell on loan with the North East county last year. He is regarded as one of the most talented young top order batters in the country. Earlier this year, he played three T20I matches for Italy – who he qualifies to play for through his mother – and scored a half-century against Scotland.
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