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KL Rahul's Classy Ton, Jurel's Fifty, Steer IND A's Ship On Rain-Hit Day 1 Against ENG A

Soumyajit Dutta

KL Rahul hits a classy ton on Day 1 [Source: @classfeed13/X]KL Rahul hits a classy ton on Day 1 [Source: @classfeed13/X]

Despite repeated rain interruptions, India A ended Day 1 of the second unofficial Test against England Lions on a strong note, reaching 319/7 in 83 overs at the County Ground in Northampton. After being put in to bat by the hosts, KL Rahul’s classy century and a composed half-century from Dhruv Jurel provided the foundation for a competitive first-innings total.

Rahul and Jurel Lead Strong Recovery

India A’s innings got off to a shaky start when Yashasvi Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Woakes for 17, falling early in the first session with just 28 on the board. The left-hander looked positive but couldn't convert his start, which added pressure to the middle order. 

Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran followed soon after, also falling leg-before to Woakes for 11. However, KL Rahul, returning to long-form cricket, soaked up the pressure with calm determination and built vital stands with Karun Nair and later Dhruv Jurel.

KL Rahul, anchoring from one end, added 86 runs with Nair (40), followed by a 121-run stand with wicketkeeper Jurel (52). His strokeplay was elegant and assured, marked by 15 boundaries and a solitary six in his 168-ball 116. 

Jurel, meanwhile, played a mature hand, blunting the Lions' bowling with grit and intelligent stroke rotation. Their partnership helped India A recover from 126/3 to 247/4 before both batters fell in quick succession post Tea.

Lions' Bowlers Fight Back

The hosts, despite the absence of early breakthroughs from Josh Tongue and Eddie Jack, found joy through Chris Woakes (3/50) and George Hill (2/56). Woakes was tidy and consistent with his lines, striking in both morning and evening sessions. Tom Haines and spinner Farhan Ahmed chipped in with a wicket apiece, as the Lions tried to control the run flow amidst short spells between the showers. 

Lower Order Contributions and Day 2 Outlook

Hill’s spell in the final session helped pull things back slightly after Rahul and Jurel had taken charge. With Nitish Kumar Reddy (34) and Shardul Thakur (19) adding handy lower-order runs, India A crossed the 300-run mark before stumps. 

Tanush Kotian (5*) and Anshul Kamboj (1*) will resume Day 2. England Lions will look to wrap up the Indian innings quickly on Day 2, but with overcast conditions forecast again, patience and discipline could prove key for both sides in this closely watched red-ball contest.