India A kicked off their tour of England with a commanding performance, piling up a formidable total of 557 runs before being bowled out in the post-lunch session on the second day.
The match took place at the historic St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, and it saw Karun Nair lead the charge with a sensational knock. Resuming his innings unbeaten on 186, Nair displayed grit and finesse to reach a well-deserved double-century, making a strong case for a spot in India’s starting XI for the upcoming first Test against England on June 20.
Supporting Nair’s marathon effort were Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, who both narrowly missed centuries but contributed significantly.
Jurel scored a composed 94, while Sarfaraz added a quick-fire 92, ensuring India A maintained their dominance through the innings. Their collective effort helped push the visitors into a strong position, putting the England Lions under immediate pressure with a daunting first-innings total.
Despite the uphill task, the England Lions began their innings with a positive mindset, scoring 22 runs in just five overs. However, India A’s opening bowler, Anshul Kamboj, kept things tight from his end.
The Haryana pacer bowled with impressive control, conceding only two runs in his first two overs, consistently troubling the batters with his disciplined line and length.
Kamboj’s persistence paid off in spectacular fashion during his third over. He delivered a perfectly pitched ball that was short of a length on leg stump and then sharply swung away, completely outfoxing Lions’ opener Ben McKinney.
The ball zipped past the outside edge and crashed into the stumps, giving India A their first breakthrough in style.McKinney was left stunned by the delivery, and cricket fans on Twitter erupted with praise for Kamboj’s precision and skill.
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His standout moment quickly became a highlight of the match, as social media lauded the young pacer’s ability to deliver under pressure and provide India A with a crucial early wicket.