The pitch at the Kotla in Delhi is not exactly conducive for strokeplayers but Ian Bell ensured he spent enough time in the middle to complete his preparations for the upcoming ODI series starting in three days time. Having scored 91 against India A the other day, Bell anchored the innings with a knock of 108 as England reached 294 for five against Delhi in the second warm-up game.
Apart from Bell, three other batsmen – Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan and Craig Keiswetter – made useful contributions and got the much-needed batting practice ahead of the five-match series.
Bell, who opened the batting along with Cook, looked uncomfortable initially as the ball didn’t come on to the bat and seamer Parwinder Awana troubled him with a tight line outside off. But he saw through the period by dropping the anchor at his end and letting Cook play aggressively.
Cook, the England captain, was in good touch and two of his shots – a cover drive and a backfoot punch through cover-point – off Awana stood out.
In a warm-up match, the runs scored are not always as important as the manner in which they are scored and the England skipper’s form could be ominous for India. He scored 44 before seamer Sumit Narwal breached through his defence, but an opening stand of 70 had already given the visitors a good start.
Joe Root, who came one down, tried a slog sweep off left-arm spinner Varun Sood to be caught behind while Samit Patel was unlucky as the ball kept low. But Bell found an able ally in Morgan and shared a century stand to push England ahead.
Once he completed his century, Bell hoisted Awana straight into the sightscreen.
