Cricket World Cup warm-up: England lay down Joe Root anchor template in 4-wicket win over Bangladesh

England made their intentions clear in their second warm-up match against Bangladesh at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati as Joe Root played the anchor's role while everybody around him came out swinging in their successful chase of 197 (DLS) in a rain-hit 37-over-per-side contest. After their first warm-up match against India was washed out without a ball bowled on Saturday, England had one final opportunity to get used to the conditions in India before they take on New Zealand in the World Cup opener in Ahmedabad on October 5.

Joe Root remained unbeaten on 26 from 40 balls, happy to knock the ball around and resisting his temptation to go for the big hits even as his teammates were going after the Bangladesh bowlers. Jonny Bairstow set the tone early as he threw the kitchen sink at it, more often than not, racing to solid start after left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman got the big wicket of Dawid Malan (4) with an outswinger.

Joe Root walked in at No. 3 and made sure he played the anchor's role in the explosive England line-up. Bairstow went back to the pavilion after getting an inside-edge against Mustafizur while trying to hit one into orbit.

Harry Brook stayed only 15 balls in the middle and hit 4 boundaries for his 17. Captain Jos Buttler hit a six and 5 boundaries for his 15-ball 30.

Liam Livingstone also came out swinging but he was not able to connect properly in his 11-ball stay.

With Moeen Ali, who walked in at No. 7, also continuing the aggressive batting approach, England reiterated that they would continue with their explosive approach even in the subcontinent. It's this approach that



helped them reach the final at the World Cup 4 years ago at home and win the title after a cliffhanger.

Ali tore into the Bangladesh spinners, hitting 6 sixes and 2 boundaries for his 39-ball 56.

"I just want to play the way I know I can play. If I see the ball, I thought I'll play to my strengths. I wanted to keep the momentum going. Enough time, it is spinning in, that particular bowler on that wicket was suited for me to play the way I played against him. It wasn't something I planned," Moeen Ali explained his approach, asserting that there was a method to the madness.

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur looked good with the new ball, getting the ball to move and Taskin Ahmed did well to go under 6 per over but the other bowlers came under the pump.

Without their star batter and captain Shakib Al Hasan, who is set to be back for the opener against Afghanistan in Dharamsala on October 7, Bangladesh were not able to get going with the bat.

Barring Mehidy Hasan Miraz's 74 and young opener Tanzid Hasan's 44-ball 45, Bangladesh were not able to get any big contribution from the rest of the batters as they were restricted to 188 for 9 in 37 overs.

While England batters impressed, their bowlers also got the job done. Despite Ben Stokes missing the contest, England used 9 bowlers and left-arm pacer Reece Topley shone with 3 wickets. David Wiley took 2 and Sam Curran took 1 as England's left-arm pacers dominated the Bangladesh batting unit.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid also got game time in Cuwahati, picking up 2 wickets in a fine warm-up outing for the defending champions.