20 Jun 2011

England in control of third test

7:42 am on 20 June 2011

Ian Bell's second hundred in three matches helped England stay on top in the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl.

Sri Lanka were 112 for 3 in their second innings at stumps on the day four, still 81 runs behind England's first innings of 377 for 8 declared.

England, pressing for a win that would give them a 2-nil series victory, praised their pacemen who backed up Bell's 119 not out with a disciplined display.

Shortly before the close Stuart Broad, bowling a much fuller length after wastefully dropping short for much of this match, had the experienced Mahela Jayawardene caught behind for just three off an excellent leg-cutter.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara -- the other proven class batsman in the tourists' ranks -- was 44 not out at the close.

Bell's century -- the first Test hundred at the Rose Bowl -- followed his unbeaten 103 in England's innings and 14-run first Test victory in Cardiff.

Victory in this match would put England joint second alongside South Africa in the ICC Test rankings with only India, their next opponents, above them.