England 7-289 (Ian Bell 109, Jonny Bairstow 67, Jonathan Trott 58, Steven Smith 3-18, Ryan Harris 3-41) vs. Australia

The most consistent middle order batsman of England, Ian Bell, blasted his consecutive hundred against Australia and put England into a comfortable position.

The hosts smashed 289 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their first innings on the opening day.

The 2^nd Investec Test of the five match series commenced on Thursday, July 18, 2013, at Lord’s London.

Earlier, Alastair Cook won the toss for England and went into bat along with Joe Root to open the innings. The pair was sent back to the pavilion for 26 runs in 5.2 overs and Kevin Pietersen became the third victim two runs later. Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell joined together, put their heads down and started pouring the runs while adding a few boundaries. The first was the most attacking of the two and scored 6 fours until the end of the 25^th overs as compared to Bell who got 3 whereas the score reached 74. Trott added another 2 boundaries two overs later and completed his 17^th Test fifty in the 29^th over.

Ian Bell geared up at the other end as well, dispatched a few boundaries and the score was enhanced to 127. Jonathan Trott was caught by Usman Khawaja at deep square leg off Ryan Harris for 58 from 87 balls with 11 fours. Jonny Bairstow walked in next and started off comfortably whereas Ian Bell attained his half century in the 44^th over. The run rate was controlled by the rival bowlers after that as Bairstow hit the next four in the 51^st over and continued sending the ball out of the fence regularly. The score went past the three hundred mark in the 58^th over and Bell got 3 fours in the next one off James Pattinson.

Jonny Bairstow achieved his fourth Test fifty in the 63^rd over as Bell kept on racing towards his three figures at the other side. The rival bowlers found it difficult to separate them and Ian Bell powered his 19^th Test hundred with a four. He shared a valuable partnership of 144 runs for the fifth wicket and was finally caught by the Australian skipper, Michael Clarke, at slip off Steven Smith for 109 from 211 deliveries comprising 16 fours.

The fifth wicket fell at 271 in 77 overs and Jonny Bairstow followed Bell after the addition of three runs to the total for 67 off 146 with 7 fours. Matt Prior was caught behind by Brad Haddin off Smith for 6 as the hosts managed 289 runs in 89 overs with three wickets remaining at the close of the first day’s play.

Ryan Harris and Steven Smith were the most successful bowlers during the day with three wickets each whereas Shane Watson chipped in with one wicket.

England has scored enough runs and the last three batsmen can raise the score between 325-350 runs whereas the Kangaroos will try to get rid of the remaining batsmen quickly.