Hobart, Nov. 18: Ian Bell cracked an unbeaten century and Paul Collingwood was 74 not out to put England in a commanding position against Australia A after the second day of their four-day tour match at Bellerive Oval on Thursday.
Bell, who posted his first century of the tour with an unconquered 121, put on an unbroken 198 runs for the sixth wicket with Collingwood to have the tourists riding high at 335 for five at the close in reply to Australia’s first innings of 230.
Up until the pair’s defiant stand, England were making hard work of overhauling Australia A’s modest total with Kevin Pietersen falling cheaply a week before the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane.
But Bell, who has struggled in his past three Test series against Australia, knuckled down with a superb 158-ball knock containing 16 fours and a six.
Collingwood provided staunch support hitting his runs off 128 balls with nine fours and a six. They were particularly savage on any loose deliveries and Test aspirant leg-spinner Steve Smith went for 57 runs off his 10 overs, virtually ruling him out of contention to supplant incumbent Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz for the Brisbane Test.
Bell, who averaged only 33.10 in five Tests in Australia four years ago, took to Smith with relish, clouting the young wrist-spinner for three consecutive fours from his first over.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing for the tourists in Hobart with England’s batting bazooka Pietersen going cheaply. Pietersen, who averages 50.73 in Ashes Tests against Australia, only lasted 22 balls before he was deceived by off-spinner Stephen O’Keefe and was bowled middle-stump for five.
He stared in disbelief at the spot where the ball pitched before leaving the wicket. The big-hitting Test No.4 has been unable to turn starts into hundreds on this Australian tour, with scores of 58, 35 and 33 against Western Australia and South Australia.
Opening batsman Alastair Cook scored 60 off 109 balls before he got a leading edge off O’Keefe in the 38th over and was taken by Clint McKay at deep mid-on after putting on 87 runs for the third wicket with Jonathan Trott. Trott fell in the 41st over for 41 when he got a leading edge while attempting to pull Mark Cameron, and Usman Khawaja took a good catch at mid-off.
Play was frequently interrupted by showers and only 7.2 overs were bowled in the morning session. — AFP
Brief scores: Australia ‘A’ 230 vs England 335/5 (Ian Bell 121, Paul Collingwood 74).
Pic Caption:
Ian Bell plays a pull shot during the second day of the tour match between England and Australia ‘A’ in Hobart on Thursday.