4th Ashes Test England vs Australia Day 3: Bell rescues England with third century of series

England run-machine Ian Bell delivered another century from his Ashes series production line to engineer a spirited fightback on the third day of the fourth Test against Australia on Sunday.

Ryan Harris sent shudders through the home dressing room by grabbing three early wickets but Bell weathered the storm with a majestic unbeaten 105 that led England to 234 for five in their second innings at the close, an overall lead of 202 runs.

The low-scoring game in County Durham is still tantalisingly poised with two days to go and, with the wicket getting lower and also offering increasing turn for the spinners, Australia will not want to chase a target in excess of 270 or 280.

Kevin Pietersen and Jonny Bairstow gave Bell solid support, contributing 44 and 28 respectively.

"If we can get ourselves closer to a 300-run lead that's the important thing," Bell told reporters. "The individual stuff is irrelevant really.

"I've had to work really hard in this series. I have a lot fo respect for this Australian bowling attack."

The 31-year-old Bell, who has now accumulated three hundreds and two half-centuries in the series, repaired the damage caused by Harris who produced a fiery spell of fast bowling to remove Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott.

Root was the first to go, clean bowled for two by a perfect delivery that pitched on middle before uprooting his off stump.

Captain Cook (22) followed his fellow opener back to the pavilion with the total on 42, playing a poor shot to a wide ball and feathering a catch behind to Brad Haddin.

Harris claimed his third victim seven runs later when Trott (23) gloved a short ball down the leg side and Haddin swooped for an athletic catch.

Bell was then joined in the middle by Pietersen and the pair repelled Australia's assault with a stand of 106, a fourth-wicket alliance that could eventually prove a match-winner.

The tourists were hampered when all-rounder Shane Watson was unable to finish his seventh over because of pain around his right hip and groin. It is not yet known if he will be able to bat in his team's second innings.

WASTED REVIEW

Australia wasted an lbw review when Pietersen was hit way outside the off stump by paceman Jackson Bird but they did not have to wait much longer to remove the South African-born batsman.

Pietersen tried to play off-spinner Nathan Lyon through the leg side and only succeeded in lofting a gentle catch off the leading edge to Chris Rogers at extra cover.

Bairstow carried on the good work, adding 66 for the fifth wicket with Bell who was in his element as he conjured a host of delicious cover drives and delicate late cuts.

The 23-year-old Bairstow, keen to avoid getting bogged down as he did in the first innings, was much more aggressive this time and hit two successive fours off both Lyon and Harris before being caught behind off the spinner.

Bell was knocked off his feet by a vicious bumper from Harris but the England batsman had the last laugh, bringing up his 20th test century just before the close with a single to mid-on off Bird.

He celebrated by punching the air before shaking the hand of nightwatchman Tim Bresnan who finished undefeated on four.

"I wouldn't say the game has slipped away from us," said Harris. "We just need to get those five wickets as early as we can in the morning and bat well.

"If we bat well and chase 250 to 300...I think it's evenly poised."

Earlier, Australia added 48 runs to their overnight 222 for five before being bowled out for 270.

Opener Chris Rogers fell for 110 while Stuart Broad finished with figures of five for 71.

Matt Prior produced a spectacular sprawling catch off spinner Graeme Swann to remove Rogers and the last wicket fell in comical fashion.

Umpire Tony Hill gave Harris not out following an lbw appeal from Broad but England decided to review the decision.

By the time it came for Hill to raise his finger, no one was left in the middle because the players had seen the television replays on the big screen in the corner of the ground and had already made up their minds that Harris was out.

England lead the five-match series 2-0.

EVENING SESSION

An unbeaten century by Ian Bell (105) his third of the series helped England wrest the iniative from Australia on day of the fourth Ashes Test at County Durham on Sunday.

After restricting Australia to 270, England erased the deficit of 32 and recovered from a precarious 49-3 to reach 234-5 at close.

Harris ripped through the England top order bowling Joe Root with a snorter before returning Cook (22) and Trott (23) in quick succession.

Kevin Pietersen (44) repaired the damage during a fluent 106-run stand for the fourth wicket with Bell who went onto complete his third century of the series.

Pietersen cracked six boundaries in his knock.

Bairstow (28) also shared in a crucial 66-run stand for the fifth with Bell who hit 10 fours during his unbeaten knock.

Tim Bresnan survived some testing over before the close.

Harris has figures of three for 74 so far while Lyon claimed two for 46.

Bell completes his 20th Test century by cutting Bird over the slips for a couple and then scrambling for a single. Eng 228-5 in 71 overs.

It is his third Ashes century in this series, only the 10th batsman to achieve this feat.

Lyon strikes again with Haddin taking a good catch as Bairstow edges to the keeper. Eng 221-5.

Jonny Bairstow c Haddin b Lyon 28 (65b 6x4 0x6)

Lyon returns to the attack but is driven down the ground on the offside for a boundary by Bell who moves into the 90s. Eng 215-4 in 66 overs.

Bell is in sublime form cracking Bird to third man with ease.

Bairstow cracks a boundary off Siddle with a back cut to bring up the 200 of the England second innings. Eng 205-4 in 64 overs.

Bell slams another boundary off Harris with a classic off drive but is floored by a bouncer at the end of the over. Eng 199-4 in 63 overs.

Bairstow punches Harris down the ground to mid-off for a boundary. Eng 194-4 in 61 overs.

Bell cuts Siddle over slips to third man for a boundary. Eng 190-4 in 60 overs.

Players return after just five minutes for bad light.

Bairstow attacks Harris cracking him through the cov ers and pulling to square leg in consecutive deliveries. Eng 186-4 in 59 overs.

Bairstow comes down the track and slams consecutive boundaries off Lyon. Eng 170-4 in 52 overs.

Lyon strikes claiming the big wicket of Pietersen who lunges forward and attempts to flick to leg but only gets a leading edge to cover point. Eng 155-5.

Kevin Pietersen c Rogers b Lyon 44 (84b 6x4 0x6)

His partnership with Bell yielded 106 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pietersen edges Lyon past the keeper. Eng 152-3 in 46 overs.

Bell slams Watson through the covers for another boundary. Eng 147-3 in 45 overs.

Bell cracks consecutive boundaries off Harris through the covers to complete his fifth half century in the series. Eng 142-3 in 43 overs.

Siddle bowls a maiden to Pietersen.

Bell hits the first boundary after the tea interval edging Harris past Haddin. Eng 127-3 in 37 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Bell cracks consecutive boundaries off Harris through the covers to complete his fifth half century in the series. Eng 142-3 in 43 overs.

Pietersen and Bell were both unbeaten on 37 as the home team reached tea on the third day on 123 for three, a lead of 91 runs.

The two batsmen repaired the earlier damage caused by Harris, who produced a fiery spell of fast bowling to account for Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott.

Root was the first man to go, clean bowled for two by a perfect delivery from Harris that pitched on middle before uprooting his off stump.

Captain Cook (22) followed his fellow opener back to the pavilion with the total on 42, playing a poor shot to a wide ball and feathering a catch behind to Brad Haddin.

Harris claimed his third victim seven runs later when Trott (23) gloved a short ball down the leg side and Haddin swooped for an athletic catch.

England were wobbling at that stage but Pietersen and Bell weathered the storm to share an unbroken partnership of 74 for the fourth wicket.

Pietersen went to tea in typically flamboyant style with two successive fours, a neat clip through mid-wicket followed by a crunching stroke through the covers.

Earlier, Australia added 48 runs to their overnight 222 for five before being bowled out for 270.

Opener Chris Rogers fell for 110 while Stuart Broad finished with figures of five for 71.

England lead the five-match series 2-0.

Pietersen cracks consecutive boundaries off Siddle flicking to square leg and steering to third man. Eng 123-3 in 36 overs at tea.

Pietersen hooks another short delivery from Siddle majestically to the square leg fence. Eng 100-3 in 27 overs.

Bell cuts Watson with a perfect cut between slip and gully to the third man fence. Eng 85-3 in 22 overs at the drinks interval.

Pietersen gets a streaky boundary to third man. Eng 80-3 in 21 overs.

Siddle comes into the attack and Bell picks up a boundary by cutting to point.

Pietersen pulls a bouncer from Harris to the long leg fence. Eng 65-3 in 19 overs.

Harris gets his third wicket as Trott gloves a rising delivery to be caught behind. Eng 49-3.

Jonathan Trott c Haddin b Harris 23 (29b 3x4 0x6)

Trott clips Bird to square leg for a delightful boundary.

Harris strikes again as Cook chases a widish delivery to be caught behind. Eng 42-2.

Alastair Cook c Haddin b Harris 22 (37b 3x4 0x6)

Trott hits the first boundary after the lunch interval whipping Harris to the midwicket fence to erase the first innings deficit. Eng 36-1 in 11 overs.

MORNING SESSION

Australia added 48 runs to their overnight 222 for five before being bowled out for 270. Chris Rogers fell for 110 while Stuart Broad finished with figures of five for 71.

England captain Alastair Cook was 17 not out at the interval and Jonathan Trott unbeaten on five.

Joe Root failed for the second time in the match, clean bowled for two by a perfect outswinger from Ryan Harris that pitched on middle before uprooting the young England opener's off stump.

Earlier, Brad Haddin was the first Australian batsman to fall when off-spinner Graeme Swann turned a delivery from around the wicket and trapped him lbw for 13.

Matt Prior then produced a spectacular catch to end Rogers's six-hour vigil, diving full length in front of the opener to take a sprawling effort off the bowling of Swann.

Rogers was initially given not out but England reviewed the decision and it was successfully overturned when 'Hotspot' technology showed the ball had flicked the left-hander's glove.

England took the second new ball and James Anderson picked up his first wicket of the innings when Peter Siddle (five) edged the paceman low to Cook at first slip.

Anderson then trapped Nathan Lyon lbw for four. There was no review from the batsman but television replays later showed the ball would have comfortably missed leg stump.

Harris responded with a belligerent 28, hitting three successive fours off Broad.

The England all-rounder had the last laugh, though, trapping Harris plumb lbw.

Umpire Tony Hill initially gave the Australian not out but England successfully reviewed the decision.

By the time it came for Hill to raise his finger, no one was left in the middle because the players had seen the television replays on the big screen at the Emirates Durham ground and had already made up their minds that Harris was out.

England lead the five-match series 2-0.

Trott opens his account by flicking Harris first ball to the fine leg fence. Eng 21-1 7 overs.

Harris strikes knocking the off stump of Roots who plays inside the line. Eng 17-1.

Joe Root b Harris 2 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Cook pushes Bird to the mid off boundary. Eng 17-0 in 6 overs.

Cook flicks Harris to long leg for his second boundary. Eng 10-0 in 3 overs.

Cook punches Bird through the covers for the first boundary of the second innings. Eng 5-0 in 2 overs.

Australia have been bowled out for 270 having 48 runs for the loss of five wickets on the third morning.

Stuart Broad claimed five for 71 and Anderson two for 65 after Swann struck the initial blows to finish with two for 48.

Australia enjoy a slender lead of 32.

Broad claims his fifth wicket trapping Harris leg before with England successfully overturning the not out decision to be all out for 270.

Ryan Harris lbw b Broad 28 (33b 5x4 0x6)

Harris has struck three consecutive boundaries off Broad through midwicket and a classic straight drive. Aus 270-9 in 88 overs.

Lyon is trapped leg before shuffling across to a delivery from Anderson. Aus 258-9.

Nathan Lyon lbw b Anderson 4 (7b 1x4 0x6)

Lyon edges Anderson through the slips to the third man fence.

Harris drives Broad through the covers for a boundary to bring up the 250 of the Australia innings.

Cook takes a good low catch at first slip as Siddle departs giving Anderson his first wicket. Aus 245-7.

Peter Siddle c Cook b Anderson 5 (21b 0x4 0x6)

Harris drives Anderson for a boundary to mid off to overhaul England's total of 238. Aus 240-7 in 81 overs.

The second new ball has been taken with Australia 236-7 in 80 overs.

Prior takes a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Rogers off Swann following a decision review after the original verdict was not out. Aus 233-7.

Chris Rogers c Prior b Swann 110 (250b 14x4 0x6)

Rogers hits the first boundary of the third morning off Swann.

Swann strikes with his fifth delivery trapping Haddin leg before with Australia being unsuccessful with the decision review. Australia 224-6.

Brad Haddin lbw b Swann 13 (22b 2x4 0x6)

Australia will aim to drive home the advantage in the fourth Ashes Test against England by building a substantial lead when they resume day three trailing by 16 runs with five wickets in hand on Sunday.

Chris Rogers became the second oldest Australian to hit a maiden Test century as he led his team to 222 for five on the second day in County Durham on Saturday in reply to England's 238.

 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.