India has cruised to a seven-wicket win over England in their Twenty20 World Cup warm-up in Dubai, meeting for the first time since their Old Trafford Test cancellation. England posted an impressive 5-188 led by Jonny Bairstow’s 49 off 36 balls but India was hardly troubled as they reached 3-192 with an over to spare. India lined up against England five weeks after their deciding fifth Test at Old Trafford was called off at the last minute due to COVID-19 concerns in the touring camp.

And England appeared to relish the meeting, posting a challenging target after heroics from Bairstow – who hit four fours and a six – and Moeen Ali, who was 43 not out off just 20 balls after hitting 16 off the last three deliveries. But it was not enough to stop India who was set up by an 82-run opening stand by KL Rahul (51) and Ishan Kishan, who retired on 70 not out off 46 balls. India needed 20 off the final two overs for victory. But they still reached the target with six balls to spare after Chris Jordan conceded 23 in the 19th over including seven in no-balls.

Rishabh Pant (29 not out off 14 balls) steered India home, hitting the winning runs with his third six. England captain Eoin Morgan opted to sit out after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League final. England’s second and final warm-up game is against New Zealand on Wednesday, ahead of their tournament opener against the West Indies on Saturday. England was outgunned by India as they stepped up their T20 World Cup preparations with a six-wicket warm-up defeat in Dubai.

Five weeks since the abrupt cancellation of the Old Trafford Test due to Covid concerns in the touring camp, the two teams were sharing a field once again at the ICC Cricket Academy Oval and it was India who came out on top. But that was not enough to constrain KL Rahul (51) and Ishan Kishan, who crashed a devastating 70 before retiring out to allow others a hit. India was left chasing 20 from the last two overs but a ragged visit from Chris Jordan in the 19th ended things, with 23 from it.

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Eoin Morgan opted to sit out after leading Kolkata Knight Riders to the Indian Premier League final, but Moeen did feature in the middle order despite appearing in the same match and helping Chennai Super Kings to victory. His hard-hitting steered England to a good-looking total, finishing the innings with a flourish of 16 runs off the last three deliveries.

Further up the order Buttler (18), Jason Roy (17), and Liam Livingstone (30) all got starts before succumbing to the nous of Mohammed Shami, and Bairstow held things together with a strong knock from number four. He hit four fours and a six in his 36-ball stay before being clean bowled by a vicious Jasprit Bumrah yorker magical spell.

Kishan was more than ready to keep the pressure on, dashing to his own fifty with a statement of real intent – charging England’s premier spinner Adil Rashid and hammering him high and handsome into the stands. Two balls later, he helped himself to six more.

Jordan struggled badly in the penultimate over, conceding seven in no-balls, allowing two free-hits, and seeing Pant wrap things up with a swat for six. England’s second and final warm-up game is against New Zealand on Wednesday, ahead of their tournament opener against the West Indies on October 23. India takes on Australia in a Wednesday warm-up.