Bell Century Helps England to 357-7 in Warm Up
By Michael Norwood
February 27 2013
Ian Bell has struck a century on the opening day of England's tour match with a New Zealand XI in Queenstown. After losing the toss, Alastair Cook and Nick Compton put on 45 for the opening wicket, before the Somerset man was out for 21....
He faces a challenge from Joe Root for the openers slot in the opening test match in March, and Root did himself no harm with a well made 49.
But it was Ian Bell who took the honours as only Jonathan Trott failed to spend enough time out in the middle, with the Warwickshire man out for just 1 run.
England opted to leave James Anderson and Steve Finn out of the match, opting for Graham Onions and Chris Woakes.
The decision could put pressure on Stuart Broad, should both take wickets when the Kiwi's come to bat on Day 2.
England Alastair Cook (C), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Matt Prior (W), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broa,d Graeme Swann, Graham Onions
New Zealand XI won the toss and decided to field
Day 1
England 1st Innings 357 for 7 (90.0 overs)
| Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | c Watling | b Wagner | 60 | 93 | 11 | 0 |
| Compton | c Watling | b Neesham | 21 | 47 | 2 | 0 |
| Trott | c Watling | b Neesham | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Pietersen | c Rutherford | b Neesham | 14 | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| Bell | not out | 127 | 196 | 18 | 0 | |
| Root | b Cachopa | 49 | 75 | 6 | 0 | |
| Prior | c Patel | b Neesham | 41 | 43 | 6 | 0 |
| Woakes | c Sub | b Wagner | 16 | 34 | 3 | 0 |
| Broad | not out | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| Extras | 12nb 4w 0b 6lb | 22 | ||||
| Total | for 7 | 357 | (90.0 ov) | |||
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