Last Updated:
Tom Haines scored an unbeaten 103, leading England Lions’ fightback to 237/2 after Karun Nair’s 204 helped India A reach 557.
Tom Haines (L) and Karun Nair shone on Day 2 of the England Lions vs India A unofficial Test. (PC: X)
Sussex opener Tom Haines led a strong England Lions fightback with a composed century after Karun Nair’s impressive double century propelled India A to a formidable 557 on the second day of the four-day unofficial Test on Saturday.
At stumps, the Lions were 237/2 in 52 overs, with the steady left-hander Haines anchoring the innings at an unbeaten 103 off 147 balls. They still trail India A by 320 runs.
Haines reached his 15th first-class century late in the day, achieving the milestone in 138 balls with 11 boundaries.
Following the early dismissal of Ben McKinney (16), bowled by seamer Anshul Kamboj in the sixth over, Haines, one of the most consistent and technically proficient opening batsmen in English domestic cricket, took control of the innings.
Kamboj impressed in his opening spell, swinging the ball both ways and maintaining good control.
Haines was joined by fellow left-hander Emilio Gay, and the pair stabilized the innings with a solid 109-run partnership throughout the entire second session.
Gay, who looked fluent during his stay, narrowly missed a half-century, scoring 46 off 90 balls with eight boundaries. He was dismissed by left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, who broke the threatening stand just as India A began to feel the pressure.
Max Holden then joined Haines and played with positive intent, scoring a brisk 64 off just 61 deliveries, including eight fours and a six. The duo put together a 106-run partnership, ensuring the Lions ended the day strongly.
India A skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran used six bowlers in an attempt to break the Lions’ momentum, but neither Haines nor Holden gave any chances, showing both composure and attacking instinct.
Earlier in the day, Karun, making a return to the Indian Test setup after eight years, displayed his class with a sublime 204 off 281 balls, including 26 boundaries and a six, as India A resumed at the overnight score of 409/3.
Karun, who resumed at 186, reached his 200 off 272 balls with a four over covers off pacer Eddie Jack. However, India A quickly lost the overnight batter Dhruv Jurel (94) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (7). Karun and Jurel added 195 runs for the fourth wicket before Jurel’s dismissal.
Karun could not continue much longer after reaching his double century, edging an incoming delivery from pacer Zaman Akhter to wicketkeeper James Rew. Following Karun’s dismissal, the Lions’ pacers quickly wrapped up the India A innings with regular breakthroughs.
Brief scores: India A: 557 all out in 125.1 overs (Karun Nair 204, Dhruv Jurel 94, Sarfaraz Khan 92; Josh Hull 3/72, Zaman Akhter 3/73) vs England Lions: 237/2 in 52 overs (Tom Haines 103 not out, Max Holden 64 not out, Emilio Gay 46).
(With PTI Inputs)
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
- Location :
United Kingdom (UK)
- First Published:
