England batsman Ian Bell completed his eighth Test century on Friday in a significant innings for himself and his team on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s
Bell, under pressure to make runs following an indifferent series against New Zealand, took full toll of some loose South African bowling to reach his third century at Lord’s.
At lunch, which was taken eight minutes early because of rain which had already interrupted play for six minutes, England were 422 for five in their first innings.
Bell came to bat when England were in temporary disarray at 117 for three after losing three wickets for three runs on Thursday.
He was still at the crease 286 runs later after a record fourth-wicket partnership against South Africa with Kevin Pietersen (152).
Pietersen, 104 not out overnight in his first Test against his native country, continued where he had left off on Thursday to take his score past 150 for the fifth time in Tests.
He was finally out two runs later, caught behind by Mark Boucher aiming a hook at Morne Morkel. His innings included 20 boundaries and a six.
Paul Collingwood, another batsman whose place is in jeopardy, got off the mark with a hooked four off Morkel. But he was given out caught for seven at short-leg by Hashim Amla off left-arm spinner Paul Harris from the second ball after the rain break.
Erratic bowling
South Africa, needing early wickets to get back into the contest, instead gifted England easy runs with some more erratic bowling from their pace attack.
Bell eased Makhaya Ntini’s second ball of the opening over through square-leg for four, and Pietersen dismissed Dale Steyn’s second ball from the next over through mid-wicket for another boundary.
The pair brought up their 200 partnership from 289 deliveries, breaking the previous England fourth wicket record against South Africa of 197 set by Walter Hammond and Les Ames in the 1938/39 series.
Pietersen, who did not give a chance on Thursday, mis-hit one delivery from Ntini in a gentle arc on the leg-side which Boucher was unable to reach.
He also survived a sharp caught-and bowled chance to Jacques Kallis when the batsman was on 133 and the total 372. Pietersen drove firmly back to Kallis, who got both hands to the ball but failed to hold the catch over-balancing to his left.
Kallis had replaced Steyn at the Nursery End after the fast bowler had conceded 29 from five overs. Ntini was even more expensive, leaking 40 runs from six overs.
Morkel was the pick of the attack with some lively deliveries but overall it was another chastening session for the South Africans, who are seeking a first series win in England since their readmission to international cricket in 1992. – Reuters