Bell inspires England A

The England A captain Ian Bell was the mainstay of his side's recovery from a top-order collapse in Colombo yesterday to secure a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A in their opening match of the one-day triangular series.

The England A captain Ian Bell was the mainstay of his side's recovery from a top-order collapse in Colombo yesterday to secure a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A in their opening match of the one-day triangular series.

Set a target of 249, the tourists were reduced to 28 for 3 before Bell (72) and Owais Shah (63) produced timely half-centuries. When the pair made way, Shah retiring hurt, Rikki Clarke and Alex Gidman hit 63 from only 39 deliveries to see England home with seven balls to spare. Clarke struck an unbeaten 44 off 27 balls.

In Wellington, New Zealand were bowled out for 244 on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia. The tourists enforced the follow-on with the Black Caps still trailing by 326, but bad weather meant there was no further play after tea.