Despite persistent rain delays, India A ended Day 1 of 2nd Unooficial Test against England Lions on a solid 319/7 at the County Ground, thanks largely to a composed century from KL Rahul. Put in to bat under overcast skies, India A lost early wickets to Chris Woakes, who dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) and skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (11), exploiting the green surface expertly.
At 31/2, Rahul and Karun Nair (40) steadied the ship with a crucial 86-run partnership, surviving the morning movement and taking India A to lunch in a strong position.
Rahul, returning to red-ball cricket, showed patience and precision as he brought up his hundred off 151 deliveries. He was ably supported by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel (52), with the duo adding a valuable century stand. However, George Hill broke the momentum by removing both set batters in quick succession.
Later, Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with a gritty 34 before being bowled by Tom Haines, while Shardul Thakur added a brisk 19. Tanush Kotian and Anshul Kamboj saw out the final overs, as India A ended the day with a solid total despite the rain-affected passages.
With a strong platform laid and Rahul’s reassuring form the highlight, India A will look to push on when play resumes on Day 2.
