England lose warm-up game against India A

Cricket365
January 6, 2013

England's limited overs tour to India got off to a poor start on Sunday as they lost by 53 runs to India A, despite Ian Bell's valiant 91 in Delhi.

England were chasing 224, which India A made for the loss of just four wickets, but were all out for 175 in 36 overs of a game reduced to 39 overs. England had lost six wickets for just 40 runs as the middle order failed.

England won the toss and elected to field first, but found the going tough and India were soon well on their way. Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay put on 118 for the first wicket, before Mukund was stumped by Craig Kieswetter off James Tredwell for 57.

Vijay continued on to score 76 off 75 deliveries, but was dismissed by Samit Patel in the 29th over. In the meantime, Kedar Jadhav also added a half century to his name, making 52 not out off 50 balls.

Ashok Menaria and Jalaj Saxena were the other two wickets to fall, both to fast bowler Jade Dernbach, who as the pick of the bowlers at three runs to the over.

England's chase would have been utterly disastrous if not for Bell, who opened the batting alongside Kevin Pietersen. Bell made his 91 off 89 balls, but had to watch as all his partners tumbled. Pietersen made 19, and the only other batsman to pass 20 was Tim Bresnan who made 22.

The England middle order was beyond dire, as Eoin Morgan, Patel, Kieswetter, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes all fell for single figure scores, with Menaria taking three wickets. Steve Finn was the final man to fall, to Menaria.

England's next warm up game is against Delhi on Tuesday.