Image Source- ICC
Even a three-hour rain delay and a little earthquake
nearby couldn’t stop the world champions from finishing their tournament
preparations in a high-octane run-chase against Bangladesh. England enjoyed a
useful, if somewhat prolonged, workout under the Guwahati floodlights. With a
whopping 77 balls remained in their rain-shortened 37-over chase, Moeen Ali’s
56 from 39 balls—which clinched a four-wicket win—assured the outcome, which
was irrelevant.
Bangladesh had its moments, especially when Tanzid
Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman displayed their prowess with bat and ball during
the powerplay, but in the end they were outmatched by England’s relentless
aggression. Jonny Bairstow, who was tense, set the tone for England’s offensive
performance by stretching his legs for 34 from 21 balls in a way that had been
denied him during the “utter chaos” of England’s 38-hour journey to
India’s easternmost points.
The time in the middle for a number of cooped-up players
was far more important than the outcome, especially for the 2019 veterans Mark
Wood and Adil Rashid, who have both been kept in isolation for the past few
weeks, and Joe Root, who is still struggling with his form and confidence but
overcame a painful blow to the groyne and a terrible error from Taskin Ahmed at
deep backward square to lead the chase with an unbeaten 26 from 40 balls.
Eight and a half hours after the first ball was
bowled, the game was officially done, but for a while, it appeared that England’s
preparations for both this game and Saturday’s washout against India would be
confined to a 30-over practise.
England were able to give a clean bill of health to
nine members of their bowling attack, including all six of their frontline fast
bowlers … although they are now about to be folded back up and stowed away once
more in economy class for Tuesday’s flight to Ahmedabad.