The unofficial England Lions vs India A Test match in Canterbury remained a high-scoring contest on Day 2. In reply to Karun Nair’s masterful 204 that drove India A to a dominant first-innings score of 557, the England Lions countered in style, reaching 237/2 at stumps, led by Tom Haines’ unbeaten century.
Starting Day 2 at 409/3, India A wasted little time in pushing the scoring. Even with ideal batting conditions, the visitors demonstrated their real intent by taking calculated risks to score runs quickly.
Dhruv Jurel was on his way to a hundred but got out for 94, six short, off a smart ploy by Ajeet Dale.
Nitish Reddy, following a hapless IPL season, was caught cheaply trying to play outside the body.
Karun Nair, having been temporarily denied the strike, played a pull to fine-leg for his double hundred before being dismissed for 204 (281 balls) by Zaman Akhter.
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India A’s lower order played crucial runs despite their wickets falling after lunch:
Shardul Thakur contributed with a 27 off 32 balls in a hurry.
Harsh Dubey (32*) and Anshul Kamboj contributed with a 39-run partnership at a brisk rate before the innings was closed on 557.
Bowling Highlights for England Lions:
Zaman Akhter: 3 wickets
Josh Hull: 3 wickets
England Lions Battle Back With the Bat
Up against a formidable target, England Lions began gingerly. Anshul Kamboj provided India A with an early success, removing Ben McKinney with one that nipped away to nick off-stump.
India’s momentum was interrupted by:
Mukesh Kumar was struggling with control, letting Emiliano Gay play freely.
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Shardul Thakur had Haines dropped on 11, a chance which eventually cost him dearly.
By Tea, the Lions were on 75/1, with the pitch providing very little help for the bowlers.
Haines, Holden Anchor Lions’ Fightback
The afternoon session witnessed England Lions picking up the pace. Both left-handers, Haines and Gay, tackled Harsh Dubey’s left-arm spin, sweeping regularly to destroy his rhythm. The pair scored 109 runs before Gay was stumped while trying to play a sweep, caught off the boot and into the slip cordon.
Max Holden took advantage of India’s wayward bowling, reaching his half-century with a six pulled off Nitish Reddy. Tom Haines, once again dropped on 83, made India A toil by making it a sedate 103 at stumps*, taking England Lions to 237/2, bringing down the gap to 320 runs.
Brief Scores – England Lions vs India A (Day 2)
India A – 557 all out
Karun Nair 204
Dhruv Jurel 94
Sarfaraz Khan 92
Josh Hull 3-72, Zaman Akhter 3-73
England Lions – 237/2 at stumps
Tom Haines 103*
Max Holden 64*
Anshul Kamboj 1-24
India A lead by 320 runs
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