Australia A didn’t entertain a final day run chase as their tour match against England Lions ended in a draw in Manchester on Friday.
The tourists were set an ambitious victory target of 354 from a minimum of 64 overs during the final two sessions of the four-day match at Old Trafford.
But at an asking rate in excess of 5.5 runs per over, it was a task Ed Cowan’s side did not even contemplate and the players shook hands at 5.40pm with the Australians 4-144.
South Australia batsman Michael Klinger top-scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 65, while West Australian opener Liam Davis made a patient 43 from 126 balls.
Tasmanian pair Cowan (nine) and Tim Paine (17) failed to push on while South Australia’s Tom Cooper (four) was unlucky when he swept the ball onto his foot and was caught at silly point.
Earlier, Yorkshire batsman Jonny Bairstow did his chances of a Test recall no harm when he made 139 off 168 balls in the Lions’ total of 6(dec)-315 in their second innings.
With a cloud still hanging over Kevin Pietersen’s participation in next week’s third Test against South Africa at Lord’s, Bairstow gave the selectors a timely nudge with his knock that included 20 fours and two sixes.
Resuming on an overnight score of 3-158 in the second innings, Bairstow advanced from 73 in partnership with Craig Kieswetter, the pair adding 96 in 19 overs for the fifth wicket after Victorian left-arm spinner Jon Holland (3-89) trapped James Tredwell lbw with the day’s fourth ball.
Bairstow, who was dropped from the Test team after scoring only 38 runs in three matches against the West Indies earlier in the summer, lofted Nathan Lyon (1-62) straight down the ground before smearing the off-colour Mitchell Johnson (0-75) over square-leg.
The tourists resorted to bowling part-time spin during the latter stages of the morning session and Bairstow fell when he was caught behind as he attempted to reverse sweep Peter Forrest’s off-spin.
It was the Queensland player’s maiden first-class wicket before Holland had Chris Woakes stumped by Paine.
The sides play the second and final match of their mini series at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting on Tuesday.
