India A vs England Lions: Karun Nair hits classy hundred, puts hand up for Test spot

India Today

3 days ago

Karun Nair delivered a masterful display with the bat on Day 1 of the first four-day match during India A's tour of the England Lions at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury. The seasoned campaigner appeared in complete control on a surface that offered good value for batting. Coming in at No. 3 after captain and opener Abhimanyu Easwaran fell cheaply, Karun put on a batting clinic against the red Dukes ball.advertisementKarun became the first Indian batter to hit a hundred on the much-awaited tour of England. The 33-year-old, who has returned to the Indian Test side after seven years, hit his 24th first-class hundred. It was also his second successive fifty in red-ball cricket after his match-winning hundred in the Ranji Trophy final for Vidarbha in February.Karun got to his hundred in 155 balls in the post-Tea session, clipping leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for a double. Karun removed his helmet and celebrated his hundred, soaking in the applause from the Indian dug-out and the crowd. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ishan Kishan gave Karun a standing ovation.
Unfortunately, Sarfaraz Khan missed out on his hundred, getting out for 92 after the Tea break on Day 1 of the four-day match.advertisementHe reached his fifty in 85 balls in a stroke-filled innings. The Karnataka batter was unbeaten on 91 at Tea, having stitched together a 181-run partnership with Sarfaraz Khan, who was given a chance to bat at No. 4.England Lions relied on a four-pronged pace attack throughout the first session. They managed to keep the scoring rate in check after left-arm pacer Josh Hull dismissed Abhimanyu for 8, followed by Eddie Jack, a tall right-armer, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 24, caught behind in the 17th over. The new ball offered some movement, but Karun Nair negotiated it expertly, showing composure and resilience.He looked assured with his footwork, displaying clarity in both front-foot and back-foot play. Karun was quick to capitalise on full deliveries, driving with elegance, and when the bowlers dropped short, he rocked back confidently to play late, piercing the field with precision.Karun also handled the short ball with authority, dispatching several to the boundary with classy pull shots. By Tea, he had struck 14 boundaries, guiding India A into a position of strength.At the other end, Sarfaraz Khan — overlooked by selectors for the Test series in England — made a strong case for himself. Showing maturity, he adapted to the conditions and curbed his natural aggression early in the innings. He brought up his fifty in 87 balls before shifting gears.advertisementSarfaraz looked comfortable against spinners Rehan Ahmed and Dan Mousley, finding boundaries with ease. He scored his next 42 runs off just 31 balls as he raced towards a well-deserved hundred. Right after Tea, Sarfaraz was dismissed by left-arm pacer Hull. The Mumbai batter went hard at a delivery which was bowled down the leg-side from around the wicket. Sarfaraz only managed to edge it to the wicketkeeper, who dived and collected it low.Sarfaraz was miffed with himself after missing out on an opportunity to hit a statement hundred.Must Watch