KL Rahul on Friday gained the requisite confidence and much-needed recreation time forward of the upcoming five-Take a look at sequence with 100 for India A towards an England Lions bowling assault that featured Chris Woakes. Rahul’s flawless 116 off 168 balls — his nineteenth first-class hundred — was complemented by Dhruv Jurel’s 52 off 87 balls, his third successive half-century, as India A reached 319 for 7 in 83 overs on a rain-hit opening day.
At stumps, Tanush Kotian (5) and Anshul Kamboj (1) have been on the crease.
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The Lions’ bowling assault, boosted by the return of Woakes (3/50 in 17 overs), posed its set of challenges in situations aiding seam and swing. Nonetheless, Rahul had a solution to each probing query thrown at him by the English speedster.
The opposite English seamer Josh Tongue, who primarily bowls inswing with an open chested motion, was dealt with with aplomb by Rahul, who hit 15 fours and a straight six down the bottom off spinner Farhan Ahmed’s bowling.
Rahul opening the innings was a transparent indication that he, together with Yashasvi Jaiswal, is more likely to face the brand new ball within the opening Take a look at at Leeds from June 20.
The way through which Rahul dealt with Woakes’ first spell was a clinic. He was proper behind the ball and when he performed sq. off the wicket, he executed his strokes as late as attainable.
The kneeling cowl drive was a picture-perfect stroke, and in the course of the post-tea session, it appeared as if Rahul was having an prolonged web session — such was the convenience with which he batted.
There was cloud cowl in the course of the first session and Woakes took full benefit of the situation by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal, who didn’t appear pleased with the lbw choice and felt that the supply was lacking leg-stump.
Abhimanyu Easwaran (11) might have been dismissed off the very first ball as he loosely dangled his bat at an outswinger from Woakes, solely to be dropped at second slip. Nonetheless, Woakes ultimately bought him in his first spell with a supply that straightened after pitching and trapped him plumb in entrance.
Easwaran, who has as soon as once more been handed the India A captaincy, has now did not ship in all first innings of India A’s first-class matches in Australia and England.
He couldn’t cross 20 within the 4 innings in the course of the ‘A’ Checks in Australia, and in England, on pitches with some help for bowlers in Canterbury and now Northampton, he regarded brief on each method and temperament to counter high quality bowling.
Karun Nair (40) regarded good within the second session when the solar was out and had an 86-run third-wicket stand with Rahul earlier than he grew to become Woakes’ third sufferer.
Jurel, whose batting could be very simple to the attention, added 121 runs for the fourth wicket with Rahul and had seven fours in his knock. With scores of 94, 53 not out and 52, Jurel just isn’t solely a worthy understudy to Pant but in addition presents the workforce administration with an possibility of a specialist No. 6 batter if the necessity arises.
Seamer George Hill (2/56 in 18 overs), who operates from extensive of the crease, dismissed Jurel with one which got here in with the angle. He then bought a supply to straighten and bounce, which Rahul edged to second slip.