Canterbury, June 2, 2025: The opening unofficial Test between India A and England Lions ended in a hard-fought draw after four days of run-heavy cricket at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. With both teams scoring in excess of 550 in their first innings, the match was always headed towards a stalemate, but not without individual brilliance lighting up the contest.
Jaiswal’s 245 and Karun Nair’s 204 Power India A to 557
After being put into bat by England Lions, India A produced a commanding first-innings total of 557, driven by a record-breaking performance from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a majestic 245 off 351 balls. His knock included 31 fours and 4 sixes and formed the backbone of India A’s innings.
He was well supported by Karun Nair, who played with aggressive flair, scoring a rapid 204 off 281 deliveries at a strike rate of 72.60. The duo shared a massive partnership that demoralized the Lions’ bowling attack.
Other contributors included:
Sarfaraz Khan – 92 (119)
Dhruv Jurel – 94 (120)
Nitish Reddy – 72 (200)
The England Lions bowlers struggled for breakthroughs:
Josh Hull was the most successful, picking up 4/72.
Zaman Akhter and Eddie Jack chipped in with two wickets each.
Tom Haines Leads England Lions’ Reply with 171
In response, England Lions matched the intensity with a mammoth 587 in their first innings, led by Tom Haines’ gritty 171 off 279 balls, featuring 19 boundaries. He anchored the innings after early jitters and built key partnerships through the middle order.
Max Holden added a stylish 101 off 121 balls, showing class and composure.
Dan Mousley played a blistering cameo, scoring 113 off just 66 balls, including 17 boundaries and 1 six, maintaining an astonishing strike rate of 171.97.
India A’s bowlers toiled under hot conditions:
Mukesh Kumar was the pick of the attack with 3/59 in 25 overs.
Thakur and Harshit Rana picked up two wickets each, while Harsh Dubey also contributed with one.
India A Continue Dominance in Second Innings
With a 30-run deficit, India A came out firing in their second innings, led again by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a fluent 64 off 60 balls, continuing his rich form. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran followed up with 68 off 88, while Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Reddy remained unbeaten on 53 and 52 respectively, taking India A to 241/2 in just 41 overs before both sides shook hands for a draw.
Rehan Ahmed was the only wicket-taker in the second innings for the Lions, dismissing both openers and finishing with 2/41.
Match Summary
India A 1st Innings: 557 all out (Jaiswal 245, Karun Nair 204; Hull 4/72)
England Lions 1st Innings: 587 all out (Haines 171, Holden 101, Mousley 113; Mukesh Kumar 3/59)
India A 2nd Innings: 241/2 in 41 overs (Jaiswal 64, Easwaran 68, Jurel 53*, Reddy 52*; Rehan Ahmed 2/41)
Result: Match Drawn
Venue: St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
Toss: England Lions won the toss and elected to bowl
This drawn Test showcased the immense talent in both India A and England Lions’ squads, particularly in batting. While bowlers struggled to make inroads on a placid surface, standout performances from Jaiswal, Haines, Karun Nair, and Mousley made it a memorable encounter. Both teams will look to regroup for the second unofficial Test, hoping for more bowling-friendly conditions and a chance to claim a result.
