NEW DELHI: Karun Nair oozed elegance with a sublime unbeaten 186, issuing a timely reminder to the Gautam Gambhir-led team management as India A piled on 409/3 against a lacklustre England Lions side on the opening day of the first ‘Unofficial’ Test in Canterbury on Friday.Although traditionally slotted at No. 4 or lower in first-class cricket, Nair looked at complete ease throughout his masterclass innings, rendering the Lions attack — including their Test spinner Rehan Ahmed — largely ineffective.India A batters capitalised on an underwhelming bowling effort on a docile pitch, but the lack of resistance from the Lions and the nature of the surface may not offer an accurate gauge of Test-level conditions.Now representing Vidarbha, the Bengaluru-born Nair put his county experience with Northamptonshire to good use, notching up his 24th first-class century. His classy knock, laced with 24 boundaries and a six, couldn’t have come at a better time as the Indian think-tank weighs up its options for the opening Test against England at Leeds on June 20.Sarfaraz Khan, who smashed a vibrant 92 off 119 balls, mixed audacity with finesse but fell short of a well-deserved hundred after doing all the hard work. Together, Sarfaraz and Nair stitched a 181-run stand for the third wicket.Later, Dhruv Jurel joined the party with an unbeaten 82 off 104 balls, forming a 177-run unbroken partnership with Nair to end the day on a commanding note for India A.
Ironically, much like in the selection race for the Test squad where Nair edged out Sarfaraz, he once again outshone the Mumbai batter on a pitch offering little for the bowlers. The Lions attack, toothless for the most part, leaked 51 boundaries and three sixes across 90 overs — an alarming stat.Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 55) saw off the first hour but failed to convert the start, while Abhimanyu Easwaran (8) once again raised questions about his suitability for the top level despite being handed another opportunity.Despite the greenish tinge on the Canterbury County ground surface, there was barely any lateral movement. Nair, with ample time to play his shots, was ruthless on anything short and majestic with square-of-the-wicket play. His pull shots were particularly commanding, while against off-spinner Dan Mousley, he reverse-swept with nonchalant ease.
Rehan Ahmed had a forgettable outing, conceding 95 runs in 16 overs. Sarfaraz took him on confidently — reaching his fifty with an inside-out boundary and later lofting him straight for a six. Against pace, he was equally inventive, using the bounce to ramp deliveries over the slips.Sarfaraz eventually fell chasing a wide one down leg-side off Hull, a wicket even the Lions bowlers didn’t seem to expect. But the joy was fleeting for the home side as Nair and Jurel pressed on relentlessly, showing no signs of easing up.
