- Reuters
England's Ian Bell is struck by a bouncer from Pakistan's Mohammad Sami on the second day of the second Test at Old Trafford yesterday.
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters):
England's young batsmen Alastair Cook and Ian Bell scored second successive centuries to leave Pakistan facing near-inevitable defeat on the
second day of the second Test yesterday.
The 21-year-old Cook made 127 while the 24-year-old Bell added 106 not out before the home side, resuming on 168 for two, declared on 461 for nine deep into the final session of another baking day at Old Trafford.
Pakistan, needing 342 to make England bat again, survived the final four overs of the day to get to 12 without loss.
No side has won a Test match after conceding more than 300 in the first innings. The first match of the four-Test series was drawn.
Cook and Bell's contrasting innings rubbed in England's superiority after strike bowler Steve Harmison had taken six for 19 on Thursday to skittle Pakistan for 119.
The left-handed Cook's near-flawless knock was inevitably more cautious at the top of the order and marked by some fine off drives. He batted for five hours and 40 minutes, facing 260 balls and hitting 18 fours. He took 208 balls to get to three figures.
Bell, a right-hander battling to establish himself in the side, needed just 127 as he went on the attack in the final throes of the innings. He helped coax 140 runs from the tail after the fall of the sixth wicket.
Both had made centuries against Pakistan at Lord's. For Cook, it was his third in seven Tests and for Bell, a fourth in 16.
