India’s batsman, Karun Nair, is currently in England, playing in the County Championship for Northamptonshire. He signed with the team for a short duration earlier this month and will feature for the team in three games. Nair scored an amazing century at the Oval against Surrey on Wednesday. 

The game started on Tuesday, and the Northants were asked to bat first on a tricky surface. After a mediocre opening stand, Emilio Gay was dismissed and skipper Luke Procter walked in. But he followed in Gay’s footsteps soon after and was dismissed on 8 (14), with the scoreboard reading 51/2.

Karun Nair walked in at No. 4 and steadied the ship for the county side. Playing a gritty knock, the batter brought up a well-made half-century in 108 deliveries, consisting of eight fours. He continued the onslaught and held one end firmly, although wickets kept tumbling on the other side. The team was 170-6 when he completed his fifty. 

Nair continued batting against a lethal lineup and was approaching another crucial milestone. A good partnership between Nair and Tom Taylor steadied the side at the Oval. Batting at 99*, Surrey bowler Daniel Worrall bowled a short delivery, but Nair was quick to judge it and dispatched it for a four by playing a clinical ramp shot. With the boundary, Nair brought up his 16th century in First-Class cricket in 184 deliveries. 

The 31-year-old looked well on his way to reaching his 150, but the match was delayed by bad lighting. But Nair did his job well and saved his team from an embarrassing collapse at the Oval. 

Umesh Yadav brings up a quick fifty in County Championship

After Essex elected to bat first against Hampshire at Chelmsford,  Both openers got out cheaply in the first few overs, and Essex were in trouble at 18/2. Skipper Tom Westly and Dan Lawrence stitched up a steady partnership and brought Essex out of troubling waters. Batting at five, Matt Critchley missed out on a century as he got dismissed on 99 by Liam Dawson. Keeper Adam Rossington brought up a century, scoring 104 (145). 

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Umesh Yadav walked in at No. 9 and took the Hampshire bowlers to the cleaners after getting set. He was at 3 (21), but accelerated to 30 (31) in a span of just three overs by hitting three fours and two sixes. He then reached his half-century in 43 balls, adding two more sixes. He was soon dismissed by Felix Organ for 51 (45). After his dismissal, Essex declared their innings at 447/9.