Cook leads from the front

Alastair Cook returned to captain England against Delhi
8 January 2013

Captain Alastair Cook was among the runs as England made a solid start to their final one-day warm-up in India.

Cook missed the 53-run defeat to India A on Sunday due to a cold but was back to lead the side against Delhi on Tuesday morning.

After choosing to bat first, Cook made 44 before he was first man out with the score at 70.

Parvinder Awana almost dismissed Cook in the first over but the left-hander was fortunate to see the ball land safe after cannoning off bat and pad.

The first boundary of the day arrived in the fourth over when Cook nicked Ashish Nehra to third man and the runs soon started to add up, four more off the pads and a straight drive in the same over getting the ball rolling.

Ian Bell, who made 91 in the previous match, was going somewhat slower at the other end as Cook scored 28 of England's 43 runs at the 10-over mark.

Bell found his touch with a wonderful lofted four over extra-cover as England passed 50 in 71 balls and was 21 not out after 15 overs.

Cook fell in the 16th over, clean bowled by Sumeet Narwal after a 58-ball stay including seven fours.

Kevin Pietersen was rested for the match on his home Indian Premier League ground, the Ferozesha Kotla Stadium, joining Tim Bresnan and Jos Buttler on the sidelines as Joe Root and Stuart Meaker came in alongside Cook.

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