Ian Bell's maiden Test hundred against India allied to a sporting reprieve saw England into a commanding lead on the third day of the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Sunday. England, in their second innings, were 441 for six at the close, giving them a lead of 374 runs. Bell made a superb 159, but only after being run out when on 137 to the last ball before tea.
Having completed three runs with Eoin Morgan following a misfield by Praveen Kumar, he sprinted off the field believing the umpires had called 'time'. In fact the ball was still 'live' - Morgan gestured to his partner to regain his ground - and, after calling in the third umpire, the on-field officials gave a stunned Bell out.
England coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss went to the visitors' dressing room at tea to ask India, whose coach is ex-England supremo Duncan Fletcher, if they wanted the appeal to stand.
And minutes later India withdrew their appeal. Umpires Marais Erasmus of South Africa and Pakistan's Asad Rauf emerged after tea to boos from spectators, unaware the decision had been reversed, as did India before the jeers became cheers when Bell resumed his innings. Bell's eventual 159 included 24 fours and was made in nearly five-and-a-half hours at the crease.
Left-hander Morgan went to a 60-ball fifty, featuring seven fours, with a straight six against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Morgan was caught behind for 70 before Jonathan Trott, batting down the order after suffering a shoulder injury while fielding on Saturday, gloved a rising delivery to Rahul Dravid in the slips.
England were 339 for six at that point, but wicketkeeper Matt Prior again proved a thorn in India's side with the bat, hooking fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for six on his way to an unbeaten 64. He received excellent support from Tim Bresnan, 47 not out, in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 102.
Ealrier, Bell had helped add 162 for the third wicket before Kevin Pietersen (63) was caught behind off Sreesanth by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Bell, 84 not out at lunch and scoring briskly, went to 98 with a fluent cover-driven four off Kumar.
Then a leg-glanced two off Sreesanth saw the 29-year-old Bell, batting at number three because of Warwickshire colleague Trott's injury, to his 15th hundred in 67 Tests and fourth this year.
==========================================
England 1st Innings: 221
==========================================
India 1st Innings: 288
==========================================
England 2nd Innings (overnight: 24-1)
==========================================
A. Strauss c Dhoni b Sreesanth 16
A. Cook c Yuvraj b Sharma 5
I. Bell c Laxman b Yuvraj 159
K. Pietersen c Dhoni b Sreesanth 63
E. Morgan c Dhoni b Kumar 70
M. Prior not out 64
J. Trott c Dravid b Kumar 2
T. Bresnan not out 47
------------------------------------------
Extras: (b9, lb3, w1, nb2) 15
------------------------------------------
Total: (6 wkts, 101 overs, 446 mins) 441
==========================================
To bat: S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson
Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Cook), 2-57 (Strauss), 3-219 (Pietersen), 4-323 (Bell), 5-329 (Morgan), 6-339 (Trott)
Bowling: Kumar 29-5-93-2 (1w); Sharma 24-3-115-1; Sreesanth 22-5-103-2 (2nb); Yuvraj 10-0-41-1; Harbhajan 9-1-47-0; Raina 7-0-30-0;
India: Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wkt), Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
Match position: England are 374 runs ahead with four second wickets standing
Toss: India Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Marais Erasmus (RSA)
TV umpire: Billy Bowden (NZL)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI).