Canterbury, May 30: Karun Nair produced a batting exhibition for the ages, scoring an unbeaten 186 as India A took firm control of proceedings on Day 1 against England Lions at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence in Canterbury. At stumps, the visitors finished at an imposing 409 for 3 in 90 overs, riding on a superb 182-run stand between Nair and wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who remained unbeaten on a fluent 82 at the close of Day 1.
Put into bat on a surface with early movement, India A had a cautious start. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran showed early signs of grit, but both fell inside the first 17 overs. Easwaran (8 off 17) was trapped lbw by Josh Hull, while Jaiswal (24 off 55) looked in decent touch before edging behind off Eddie Jack.
From 51 for 2, Nair and Sarfaraz Khan resurrected the innings with an assertive 181-run partnership. Khan, known for his aggressive style, once again made a strong case for higher honours, stroking 92 off 119 deliveries with 13 fours. However, he missed out on a century after edging Hull behind to keeper and skipper James Rew, who had a busy day with the gloves.
Unfazed by the fall of wickets, Nair stood tall. The right-hander brought up his century with a neat tuck to fine leg and continued piling on runs with elegance and control. His unbeaten 186 came off 246 balls and included 24 boundaries and a six, a reminder of his classical technique and ability to build long innings—qualities that have made him a domestic giant.Supporting him in the final session was the enterprising Jurel. The keeper-batter was proactive from the start, rotating strike and punishing anything loose. His 82 not out off 104 deliveries, with 9 fours and a six, provided the ideal foil for Nair’s anchor role.
England Lions’ bowlers toiled hard but without much reward. Hull (2/51) was the pick, extracting occasional bounce and movement. Eddie Jack (1/51) struck early, but the rest—especially leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and pacer Ajeet Singh Dale—struggled to contain the flow of runs. Mousley (0/48 off 8) and Ahmed (0/95 off 16) came in for particular punishment.The Lions’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss didn’t quite pay off, as the Indian batters seized control after the first hour.
Brief Scores (Day 1): India A 1st innings – 409/3 in 90 overs (Karun Nair 186*, Dhruv Jurel 82*, Sarfaraz Khan 92; Josh Hull 2/51, Eddie Jack 1/51) vs England Lions. (Agencies)
