Ian Bell century leads England's charge against Australia A
England continued to have an upper hand on the second day of their final warm-up game against Australia A at Hobart in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854. The tourists ended the day on 335/5 in reply to the Australia A side’s score
of 230 all out thanks to Ian Bell’s strong unbeaten century and Paul Collingwood’s half-century.
Australia A had been bowled out on the first day of the game for 230 after being reduced to 66/5 at one stage. The English side had ended the day on 22 for the loss of captain Andrew Strauss’ wicket.
On the second day, night-watchman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Monty-Panesar-c2024 was the first wicket to fall when he was dismissed by Clint McKay for a score of 13 – caught off a top-edge while attempting a pull stroke. That brought Jonathon
Trott to the crease and he joined Alastair Cook in a neat-87 run partnership for the third wicket.
Cook’s dismissal brought about a mini-collapse. Steve O’Keefe first had Cook attempting to hit the ball over the inner field but only managed to offer a simple catch to the fielder, which was followed by
a couple of quick wickets for the addition of 13 runs only.
Kevin Pietersen failed with the bat as he was bowled by O’Keefe for five while Trott made 41. Pietersen hasn’t had the best of times with the bat and even during the warm-up games, he has failed to convert
his starts.
At 137/5, it looked like the tourists would end up going the Australia A way but they were saved the blushes through Bell and Collingwood. Both the batsmen took the opposition bowlers head-on and added 198
runs in only 45 overs. The batsmen were particularly severe on Ashes-prospect Steven Smith who ended with figures of 0/57 off his ten overs.
There was some doubt about Bell’s spot in the starting eleven of the English side for the Test matches but this confident century would have helped seal his berth and ensured that he goes into the first Test
with a lot of confidence.
On the other hand, Collingwood’s form was a concern but two successive scores of more than 50 would have definitely helped him.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mark-Cameron-c1899 and O’Keefe scalped two wickets each in the innings and McKay finished with the solitary wicket of Panesar.
England had won the first warm-up game they played against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844 despite having an upper hand in that match.
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