‘Bell a pain in the backside’
SOUTHAMPTON: Sri Lanka interim coach Stuart Law said Ian Bell was proving a “pain in the backside” for his team after the England batsman’s second hundred in three matches helped set up the hosts’ victory bid in the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl. Bell’s 119 not out led to a bold England declaration on 377 for eight, a first innings lead of 193.
Sri Lanka were 112 for three in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, still 81 runs behind, and with the experienced Mahela Jayawardene out for just six shortly before the close.
But Kumar Sangakkara, captaining Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, was 44 not out at stumps.
Bell’s unbeaten century in the first Test in Cardiff provided the platform for an innings and 14-run victory that gave England a 1-0 series lead (the second match at Lord’s was drawn).
Former Australia batsman Law, who played against Bell in English county cricket, said the 29-year-old right-hander was now making scores worthy of his undoubted talent.
“Playing good cricket is all about consistency and Ian has done that in the last 12-18 months, started to fulfil the promise he showed coming through the ranks as a youngster at Warwickshire,” Law said of Bell, who scored 329 runs at 65.80, with one hundred, during England’s victorious Ashes campaign. “It was another great innings today (Sunday), he’s a pain in the backside to be honest with you, the way he plays.”
Bell, responding to Law’s comments, told reporters: “I feel like I am batting as well as I can at the minute. It’s nice to contribute to us getting in winning positions.
Sri Lanka were 112 for three in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, still 81 runs behind, and with the experienced Mahela Jayawardene out for just six shortly before the close.
But Kumar Sangakkara, captaining Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, was 44 not out at stumps.
Bell’s unbeaten century in the first Test in Cardiff provided the platform for an innings and 14-run victory that gave England a 1-0 series lead (the second match at Lord’s was drawn).
Former Australia batsman Law, who played against Bell in English county cricket, said the 29-year-old right-hander was now making scores worthy of his undoubted talent.
“Playing good cricket is all about consistency and Ian has done that in the last 12-18 months, started to fulfil the promise he showed coming through the ranks as a youngster at Warwickshire,” Law said of Bell, who scored 329 runs at 65.80, with one hundred, during England’s victorious Ashes campaign. “It was another great innings today (Sunday), he’s a pain in the backside to be honest with you, the way he plays.”
Bell, responding to Law’s comments, told reporters: “I feel like I am batting as well as I can at the minute. It’s nice to contribute to us getting in winning positions.
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on 01:20.
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