ENGLAND LIONS VS INDIA A
Kotian scored 90 in the second innings © Getty
India A rounded off the second unofficial Test on a positive note against the England Lions in Northampton. The visitors scored 254 runs for just three wickets on the day, which was heralded by a 149-run stand from Tanush Kotian (90*) and Anshul Kamboj (51*) for the eighth wicket.
Nitish Reddy and Dhruv Jurel were still new to the crease when play started on the fourth day. With Nitish struggling early on, Jurel scored two boundaries off Chris Woakes. Nitish then scored a boundary to third man as he slowly settled down. The two youngsters were resolute in defence as well, but just when the partnership seemed threatening, Jurel fell to Eddie Jack for 28. Shardul wasted no time with two early boundaries off Jack while Nitish began to have some fun against the young legspinner Farhan Ahmed. Things got worse for Farhan as Thakur deposited him for two consecutive sixes as India went past the 250-mark.
Nitish was bowled for 42 by George Hill while Thakur fell for 34 on the stroke of Lunch to the same bowler. But that didn’t let up Farhan’s misery as Kotian got off the mark with a six off his bowling. After the break, it was all one-way traffic as Kotian and Kamboj got together in the mammoth stand to frustrate the England Lions bowlers. Kotian hit back-to-back boundaries off Farhan while Kamboj did the same feat against Hill in the next over.
The two batters looked at their absolute best, barely giving a chance to the hosts. They found the boundaries at regular intervals, and Kotian soon got to his 50 off just 60 balls. Hill and Jack were given short spells of two overs each, which yielded 25 runs as the runs continued to flow. The Mumbai all-rounder continued to race through in his innings while Kamboj got closer to a 50 with a six off Tom Haines, taking India past 400. Kamboj then scored his 50 on the stroke of Tea before India declared on 417 for 7.
In the one hour after Tea which saw 11 overs bowled, Deshpande picked up the in-form Haines which was nicked to Nitish Reddy. As many as four bowlers were used, including Deshpande in this short session but it was Kamboj whose field day continued as he picked up Emilio Gay who nicked behind, and crashing into the stumps of Jordan Cox for a duck in a single over. Ben McKinney scored 16 before the game came to an end.
Brief scores: India A 348 & 417/7 declared (Tanush Kotian 90, Abhimanyu Easwaran 80, KL Rahul 51; George Hill 3-64) drew to England Lions 327 & 32/3 (Ben McKinney 16*, Anshul Kamboj 2-6, Tushar Deshpande 1-13)
© Cricbuzz
