The first unofficial Test betweenin Canterbury finished in a run-filled draw, with batters ruling both innings. On a pitch that offered little to the bowlers, both sides used the game as a platform for extended batting practice.
England Lions piled up 587 in their first innings, led by centuries from Tom Haines (171), Dan Mousley (113), and Max Holden (101). India A had earlier made 557, with Karun Nair scoring a brilliant 204, supported by Dhruv Jurel (94) and Sarfaraz Khan (92). England took a slender 30-run lead before both teams switched to second innings mode.
In response, India A ended their second innings at 241 for 2 declared. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (64) and Abhimanyu Easwaran (68) made easy work of the conditions, scoring fluent half-centuries. Jaiswal looked sharp again before falling to a loose shot for the second time in the match. Easwaran, after a first-innings failure, made amends with a determined knock before being bowled while attempting a reverse sweep against Rehan Ahmed.
Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy spent some valuable time batting before the match ended an hour after tea. Both are strong contenders for a place in the first Test in Leeds, which begins on June 20. Jurel, who missed out on a century in the first innings, continued to impress with his clean strokeplay and is likely in contention with Nair for a middle-order spot.
Reddy, who is coming back from a recent side strain, bowled 14.5 overs and took one wicket in the match. He will aim to strengthen his case in the second game, which begins on June 6 in Northampton.
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