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28-Jul-2014 17:32:00 GMT
England v India, 3rd Investec Test, Ageas Bowl

Bell, Buttler Put England Edge

Southampton: Ian Bell starred with a superb 167 as England took control of the third Test against India on day two at Southampton, declaring on 569-7.

The hosts began the day on 247-2, and Gary Ballance fell just before lunch for 156 after adding 142 with Bell.

But Bell pushed on and despite losing Joe Root and Moeen Ali cheaply, he shared a century stand with debutant Jos Buttler, who hit a rapid 85.

India lost Shikhar Dhawan for six and reached 25-1 by the close.

Earlier, four batsmen passed fifty - two of them went over 150 - as England put on a commanding show with the bat and declared on 569 for 7.

After scoring 111 runs in the morning session and 94 in the afternoon, a frenetic final session meant they scored at over five an over to pile on the runs and agony for India.

India's bowlers had to endure another difficult session, as the seven wickets were collected after sending down 163.4 overs. Ian Bell, a picture of composure - and later aggression - was finally out for 167 to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but back-to-back century stands with first Gary Ballance (142) and then debutant Jos Buttler (106) ensured England kept control on the third Test.

Gary Ballance's departure after scoring his second consecutive Test hundred provided India their best passage with the ball. Joe Root (3) and Moeen Ali (12) fell cheaply - both to Bhuvneshwar who finished with 3 for 98, but Buttler's blitz - an 83-ball 85 - meant the runs came thick and fast. Bell already had the momentum, and Buttler ensured an even quicker scoring rate with nine fours and three sixes.

Another frustrating day was capped by more dropped catches and lapses in the field. Shikhar Dhawan dropped Buttler on 23 off Mohammed Shami and just like Cook capitalised on his life, the debutant wicketkeeper-batsman made India pay with an aggressive innings.

MS Dhoni missed a simple stumping chance when Buttler was on 59, but the damage had been done by then. He was finally bowled following a missed swipe across the line, and his wicket forced Alastair Cook to call his batsmen in.

Bhuvneshwar returned with India's best bowling figures with a vastly improved performance, but Mohammed Shami and Pankaj Singh experienced a dip. Shami was unlucky to miss out his second wicket, but Pankaj's pace dropped with the increased workload, and went for nearly four an over in his 0 for 146. Jadeja returned with two wickets, but Ballance, Bell and Buttler all took him for easy runs.

Gary Ballance remained solid for most of the first session, but fell against the run of play to a poor decision off Rohit Sharma for 156. Rohit managed to get the ball to grip and straighten a little bit and Ballance looked to have been beaten, but umpire Rod Tucker gave him out with daylight between bat and pad.

Bell, however, having survived a close leg before shout early with the second new ball, continued with his fluent run-scoring methods. As many as 16 boundaries and a six came in the first two hours of play as England capitalised on a benign surface and unimaginative bowling.

Brief scores
England -
569/7d (Bell 167, Ballance 156, Cook 95, Buttler 85)
India - 25/1
Status - India trail by 544 runs


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