Karun Nair showcased his sublime form, smashing an unbeaten 144 for Northamptonshire against table-toppers Surrey in the County Champion Division One match at The Oval. Nair, adhering to his characteristic style, began the day with a score of 51 and demonstrated remarkable composure, taking 238 deliveries to reach his unblemished century. His resilient innings propelled Northamptonshire to a formidable total of 351 for nine as play concluded prematurely due to inclement weather and fading light.
The 31-year-old right-handed batsman, who had been out of the Indian national team, dazzled with 22 boundaries and two towering sixes during his innings. Just last week, Nair made an impressive debut for Northamptonshire, accumulating 78 runs against Birmingham.
Nevertheless, his team has been languishing at the bottom of the division, and at one juncture during this encounter, they were reeling at 193 for seven. Fortunately for Nair and Northamptonshire, he found a reliable ally in Tom Taylor, who contributed a valuable 66 runs.
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The eighth-wicket duo turned the tide for Northamptonshire, forging a resolute 114-run partnership, propelling their team past the 300-run mark. Unfortunately, the partnership was broken by Jamie Overton, who dismissed Taylor. Northamptonshire’s next challenge awaits them against Essex in the final county match of the season.
In the realm of Indian cricket, Karun Nair stands as a distinctive figure, alongside Virender Sehwag, as the only other batsman to have notched a triple century for India in Test cricket. He accomplished this remarkable feat against England in 2016. However, despite this extraordinary achievement, he had the opportunity to participate in only six Test matches. In these seven innings, Nair accumulated a tally of 374 runs.
That is a simply magnificent way for Karun Nair to reach his first @NorthantsCCC century#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/KDE4lXn6aZ
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 20, 2023
Regrettably, Karun Nair’s Test appearances for India ceased in 2017, marking a perplexing twist in his international career. Umesh Yadav, the pacer representing Essex, also wielded the willow impressively. Batting at number nine, Umesh delivered a spirited cameo, amassing 51 runs from just 45 deliveries. His innings was punctuated by four emphatic sixes and three powerful fours.
Umesh and Simon Harmer combined to amass 70 runs for the eighth wicket, contributing significantly to Essex’s total of 447/9. The declaration came after Essex added a substantial 137 runs to their overnight score.
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Meanwhile, Tim Murtagh demonstrated his prowess by clinching two more wickets to complete a fifer in the match against Warwickshire at Lord’s. However, his efforts couldn’t prevent the opposition from securing a crucial 107-run lead before rain interrupted further proceedings.
