Bell hundred hand England 232 lead
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
Ian Bell was eventually dismissed for 141, as Andrew Strauss declared England's first innings on 575 for 9, after a rollicking 50-minute session after lunch in which 62 runs were scored for the loss of three wickets. South Africa were therefore left facing a deficit of 232, with the best part of four sessions still remaining in the second Test, according to cricinfo.
England's tempo, which had been ponderous in the final hour before the interval, clicked into overdrive upon the resumption. Stuart Broad, who had taken an hour over his first 10 runs, signalled the onslaught by smashing Paul Harris for six over cow corner in an over that went for 15 runs.
Though Broad was subsequently caught at slip for 20, Graeme Swann emerged with his mindset plain to see. He laid into the toiling Makhaya Ntini, claiming a six and a four from the final two balls of an over that had already leaked five overthrows, before chipping a leading edge to Ashwell Prince, as Dale Steyn found some lively swing with the third new ball. Steyn's swing also accounted for Bell in his very next over, as he toe-ended a cut to the keeper, and Strauss's decision to declare was hastened by the sight of an Ntini bouncer crashing off the badge of Graham Onions' helmet and away for four leg-byes.
Ian Bell completed his ninth Test century, and Matt Prior added a quickfire 60 from 81 balls, as England extended their first-innings lead to a healthy 170 with four wickets still standing on the fourth morning at Kingsmead. By lunch, Bell was unbeaten on 119 with Stuart Broad alongside him on 10, as England's thoughts began to turn to a tea-time declaration, and a push for victory in the final four sessions of the match.
Bell's performance was the mainstay of England's morning, as he built on his overnight 55 with an innings of grace and determination. Few players in the world game look so compact and composed when given licence to play their natural game, and having resumed with a lead of 43 on a wicket that was offering little assistance to pace and spin alike, there were few alarms to report as he closed in an a 172-ball century.
That didn't quite materialise for the remainder of the session, however. Broad emerged with a puzzlingly introspective mindset, as he plodded along to 10 from 51 balls before the break, while Bell's impetus also waned in a seventh-wicket stand that was worth 36 from 91 balls.
England 575 for 9 dec (Bell 141, Cook 118) lead South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 37 for 2 (Smith 15*) trail England 575 for 9 dec (Bell 141, Cook 118) by 195 runs.
England's tempo, which had been ponderous in the final hour before the interval, clicked into overdrive upon the resumption. Stuart Broad, who had taken an hour over his first 10 runs, signalled the onslaught by smashing Paul Harris for six over cow corner in an over that went for 15 runs.
Though Broad was subsequently caught at slip for 20, Graeme Swann emerged with his mindset plain to see. He laid into the toiling Makhaya Ntini, claiming a six and a four from the final two balls of an over that had already leaked five overthrows, before chipping a leading edge to Ashwell Prince, as Dale Steyn found some lively swing with the third new ball. Steyn's swing also accounted for Bell in his very next over, as he toe-ended a cut to the keeper, and Strauss's decision to declare was hastened by the sight of an Ntini bouncer crashing off the badge of Graham Onions' helmet and away for four leg-byes.
Ian Bell completed his ninth Test century, and Matt Prior added a quickfire 60 from 81 balls, as England extended their first-innings lead to a healthy 170 with four wickets still standing on the fourth morning at Kingsmead. By lunch, Bell was unbeaten on 119 with Stuart Broad alongside him on 10, as England's thoughts began to turn to a tea-time declaration, and a push for victory in the final four sessions of the match.
Bell's performance was the mainstay of England's morning, as he built on his overnight 55 with an innings of grace and determination. Few players in the world game look so compact and composed when given licence to play their natural game, and having resumed with a lead of 43 on a wicket that was offering little assistance to pace and spin alike, there were few alarms to report as he closed in an a 172-ball century.
That didn't quite materialise for the remainder of the session, however. Broad emerged with a puzzlingly introspective mindset, as he plodded along to 10 from 51 balls before the break, while Bell's impetus also waned in a seventh-wicket stand that was worth 36 from 91 balls.
England 575 for 9 dec (Bell 141, Cook 118) lead South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 37 for 2 (Smith 15*) trail England 575 for 9 dec (Bell 141, Cook 118) by 195 runs.