Anshul Kamboj made a significant impact during the final day of the second unofficial Test between India A and the England Lions, completing his first-ever First-Class fifty while also claiming two vital wickets. This match, held recently, ended in a draw, mirroring the outcome of the previous encounter between the two teams in Canterbury.
With an intimidating target of 439 runs set for the final session, the England Lions faced a challenging start, slipping to 32 for three. However, as both team captains opted to end the game early, the match came to a close without a definitive winner.
Following this encounter, India A is set to travel to Beckenham, where they will join senior players for an intra-squad match scheduled from June 13 to June 16 at the Kent County Cricket Ground.
On the final day, Indian batsmen utilized the first two sessions to hone their skills on what became a predictable flat pitch. Tanush Kotian was particularly impressive, scoring an unbeaten 90 runs off 108 deliveries, which included ten boundaries and a six. Anshul Kamboj also displayed remarkable resilience, contributing an unbeaten 51 runs from 86 balls. The pair formed an unbroken 149-run partnership for the eighth wicket, showcasing their potential under pressure.
India A declared their second innings at 417 for seven, shortly after the tea interval. The England Lions’ innings began troubled as Tushar Deshpande swiftly claimed the wicket of Tom Haines, who was caught at second slip following a brilliant delivery. Nitish Reddy delivered an exceptional catch, diving to his left to secure the ball cleanly.
Kamboj made his presence felt with the ball as well, dismissing Emilio Gay for just five runs, who was caught behind by the wicketkeeper. He further intensified the pressure by clean bowling Jordan Cox for a duck in the eighth over.
In the earlier stages of the match, players like Dhruv Jurel (28 runs), Nitish Reddy (42 runs), and Shardul Thakur (34 runs) spent important time at the crease, which contributed to their overall preparation for the forthcoming five-Test series against England commencing on June 20.
Jurel had previously scored 52 runs in the first innings, while Reddy, who was unable to reach a half-century in the second innings after previously scoring 34, continued to showcase his capabilities. Karun Nair, following his outstanding double century in the first unofficial Test, recorded scores of 40 and 15 in this match. India A’s skipper, Abhimanyu Easwaran, redeemed himself by scoring a solid 80 runs off 92 balls in the second innings after a disappointing performance in the first.
Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal struggled during this second unofficial Test, registering scores of 17 and five in his two innings. This was a stark contrast to his impressive 64 runs during the second innings of the first match, highlighting the unpredictable nature of cricket.
Among the bowling unit, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed emerged as a key player, claiming four wickets for 70 runs in the first innings, while Tushar Deshpande supported him with two wickets of his own. Kamboj’s two wickets in this match raised his total tally to four for the series, further solidifying his emerging role within the squad.
This series of encounters is crucial for the squad as they gear up for the challenges that lie ahead in the Test series against England. The mix of experienced players and emerging talents is providing valuable insights and developments that could shape the future of Indian cricket on the international stage.