Bell Breaks New Ground To Give England Lead

Bell Breaks New Ground To Give England Lead

Ian Bell hits out during his tenth Test century in Mirpur.

©REUTERS/Andrew Biraj (BANGLADESH - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Bangladesh 419 (Tamim Iqbal 85, Naeem Islam 59no) v
England 440-8 (Bell 138, Bresnan 74no, Shakib Al Hasan 4-99)
Second Test, Mirpur, day three
Scorecard

Ian Bell's tenth Test century, his first without a team-mate also registering a three-figure score, helped England close day three of the second and final Test against Bangladesh on 440 for eight, leading by 21 runs with two days left.

Bell made a fluent 138 and he was supported by Matthew Prior and Tim Bresnan, both of whom reached half-centuries to push England past Bangladesh's first-innings total of 419.

Resuming on 171 for three, they lost Jonathan Trott when he was bowled via his elbow by Shakib Al Hasan having been unable to add to his overnight score of 64.

Bell then combined with Prior to add 98 for the fifth wicket, Prior making a vital 62 in 89 balls before he was also bowled by captain Shakib after hitting nine fours.

Bell reached his century in 200 deliveries and shortly after lofting Shakib down the ground, he mistimed a slog-sweep and was caught by debutant Jahurul Islam at midwicket.

The Warwickshire man had hit 15 fours and one six and his dismissal precipitated a minor lower-order collapse as England lost Graeme Swann (6) and Stuart Broad (3), leaving Bresnan unbeaten on 74 at stumps.

Swann was run out at the non-striking end when Shakib deflected a drive onto the stumps and Broad was trapped in front by Mahmudullah as he played down the wrong line.

Bresnan's effort has seen him face 214 balls while Shakib has bowled 57 overs in England's innings.

England lead the series 1-0 after winning the first match in Chittagong by 181 runs.

© Cricket World 2010

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