Anshul Kamboj strikes early as India A eyes control

Northampton

India A pacer Anshul Kamboj provided an early breakthrough by dismissing England Lions’ opener Ben McKinney on Day 2 of the second unofficial Test at the County Ground. After being bowled out for 348 in the first innings, India A began their defense with sharp pace and discipline.

The Lions, who had won the toss and opted to field, ended Day 2’s first session at 56/1 in 15 overs. Tom Haines remained unbeaten on 28, while Emilio Gay struggled to rotate strike. Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur kept the pressure from both ends with economical spells.

Earlier, India A resumed from their overnight score of 319/7 but managed to add only 29 more runs. Chris Woakes led the bowling effort for the Lions with figures of 3 wickets, supported by Josh Tongue and George Hill, who bagged two each.

The match is drawing significant attention due to the presence of fast-bowling all-rounder contenders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur, both vying for a spot in the senior Indian Test squad for the upcoming five-match series against England. Other notable names in the India A lineup include Tushar Deshpande, Tanush Kotian, and Khaleel Ahmed, all eager to make an impact on the selectors. With plenty of action still to unfold, the match holds crucial significance for both sides in terms of individual performances and bench strength evaluation.