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Nitish Kumar Reddy: India A ended a rain-interrupted opening day of their four-day match against England Lions on a commanding 319/7 after 83 overs at the County Ground, Northampton, with KL Rahul’s elegant century anchoring the innings and laying a strong foundation.

England Lions skipper James Rew won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling first under gloomy skies and on a surface with a visible green tinge. The early overhead conditions, combined with a lively pitch, presented a perfect opportunity for seamers to exploit, and veteran pacer Chris Woakes made the most of it.

Woakes struck twice in the first hour to jolt India A. He first dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 17 — a decision the left-hander was visibly unhappy with, as replays suggested the ball may have missed the leg stump. Then came the wicket of captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, who struggled throughout his 11-run stay before being trapped lbw. At 31/2, India A were under pressure.