England pile on the runs

Ian Bell scored a century for England as the South African attack toiled on a breezy, overcast day on the fourth day of the second Castle Lager Test at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

At lunch, England had 513 for six for a first innings lead of 169.

The visitors resumed on their overnight score of 386 for five and added 127 runs in the extended session.

Bell, who came into the Test under a cloud, after a string of low scores, silenced his critics when he reached his ninth century.

It took him just under four hours and he faced 172 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.

It came soon after he and Matthew Prior had registered their century partnership off 181 deliveries.

Prior reached his 11th Test 50, which included five boundaries and a six to bring up the milestone, but was out four balls later, when he played on to JP Duminy for 60.

When Stuart Broad joined Bell, England went into their shell as the South and the match appeared to be going nowhere.

There was bad news for England before the start of play when Paul Collingwood, who made 91 on Monday, dislocated his left index finger during fielding practice. He was taken to hospital, but an X-ray revealed no fracture.

At lunch, Bell was not out on 119 and Broad had 10. - Sapa