Sport
Bell revives England after Harris treble
Bell revives England after Harris treble
Reuters/Chester-le-Street
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 yesterday. |
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 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 more than 270 or 280 in the last innings. Kevin Pietersen and Jonny Bairstow gave Bell solid support, contributing 44 and 28 respectively.
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 man to go, clean bowled for two by a perfect delivery that pitched on middle before uprooting his off stump. Captain Cook (22) followed 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.