COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston:
Warwickshire v Lancashire
15 - 18 July 2009
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Warwickshire 256-4 (Warwicks 2pts, Lancs 1pt)

Bell clips a ball off his legs on his way to his century

Ian Bell reminded the England selectors of his ability with a century to help Warwickshire towards a decent first innings total against Lancashire.

Bell shared stands of 130 with captain Ian Westwood (60) and 78 with Jonathan Trott (69no) as the game finally got underway on day two at Edgbaston.

He was eventually dismissed by Oliver Newby for 106 just before tea.

Trott and Tim Ambrose guided the Bears to 256-4 before bad light brought a premature close.

Bell, released from the England squad facing Australia at Lord's, came to the crease in only the second over after Tony Frost was trapped leg before by Kyle Hogg's second delivery.

Hogg also ended the second wicket stand between Westwood and Bell, having the Bears skipper, who hit six fours in his 111-ball innings, caught by Tom Smith.

Bell was playing fluently, hitting 14 fours, and brought up his second County Championship of the season in 162 balls.

It was also the 25th ton of his career and the fifth time he has passed 50 in his last six Championship innings.

But he faced only 18 more before becoming the third wicket to fall, edging Newby behind to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton with the score on 210-3.

Gary Keedy soon accounted for Jim Troughton to leave Warwickshire in danger of wasting a good position from which to take maximum batting points.

But Trott and Ambrose steadied the ship and secured a second bonus point before bad light forced the teams off.

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