Tom Haines scored a century for England Lions as they reached 237/2 against India A on the second day of their first unofficial Test at Canterbury on May 31. This came after the Tourists were bowled out for a formidable 557 riding on Karun Nair's splendid double ton. For India, Karun Nair, who was 186 not out overnight, converted his score into an impressive 204, while Dhruv Jurel contributed 94. Among the England Lions bowlers, Josh Hull and Zaman Akhter each claimed three wickets.
Haines, who survived two dropped catches, remained unbeaten on 103. He built significant partnerships, first with Emilio Gay, who scored 46, and then with Max Holden, who was 64 not out at stumps. Despite their efforts, England Lions still trailed India A by 320 runs at the close of play.
Having dominated day one, India A resumed their innings on 409 for 3 in front of a crowd of 1727 at the Spitfire Ground. England Lions eventually broke a 195-run partnership when Ben McKinney took a sharp slip catch after Jurel flashed at a delivery from Ajeet Singh Dale. Eddie Jack then had Nitish Kumar Reddy caught behind for seven. However, by the end of the same over, Nair reached his double-hundred by pulling Jack for a boundary.
Zaman Akhter eventually claimed the wicket of Karun Nair, caught behind. He then secured his second wicket when Shardul Thakur was caught for 27 by Dan Mousley, who made an excellent effort to hold onto a powerful cover drive. India A went into lunch at 537 for seven. Soon after the resumption, Harsh Dubey was caught behind off Josh Hull for 32. However, Harshit Rana responded by hitting Rehan Ahmed for a six over his head.
Anshul Kamboj also hit a six but was then trapped leg-before-wicket by the same bowler for 23. The India A innings concluded when Akhter had Rana caught behind for 16.
In the sixth over of the Lions' reply, Kamboj struck, bowling Ben McKinney off-stump for 16. However, it could have been much worse for the hosts. Anshul nearly had Emilio Gay when he was on nine, but Dhruv Jurel dropped the catch. In the following over, Tom Haines was dropped by Sarfaraz Khan at second slip off Shardul Thakur when he was on 11.
The two reprieved batters guided England to 75 for one at tea. Haines then passed fifty with a boundary through midwicket off Anshul. Gay was given out for 46 after attempting to sweep Dubey; the ball looped to Khan at first slip, but the batter stood his ground until given out by the square-leg umpire. Haines received a second life on 83 when he cut Rana to point, and a diving Abhimanyu Easwaran put him down. Max Holden played aggressively, pulling Reddy for six and reaching his fifty off just 47 balls with a cut shot for four off Thakur. Haines then scrambled two runs off Thakur to reach his century, three overs before stumps.