Bell bullies Gloucestershire

Ian Bell played himself back into form with a brilliant double century as Warwickshire declared on 528 for eight against Gloucestershire on the third day of the LV County Championship match at Edgbaston.

The clash of the top and bottom teams in Division Two swung heavily in favour of the home side when the 26-year-old England batsman made 215 from 288 balls in setting Gloucestershire a target of 192 to avoid an innings defeat.

In 10 overs before the close, openers Will Porterfield and Kadeer Ali managed to avoid any trouble and reduced the deficit to 152 by reaching 36 without loss.

Bell played with glorious certainty, hitting 32 boundaries and monopolising a second-wicket stand of 221 with Jonathan Trott, who heaped further misery on the visitors with an unbeaten 164 which included 20 fours and a six.

Although Bell struggled to produce his best during the Test and one-day series against New Zealand, he gave the England selectors a timely reminder of his class on his return to county duty.

Ian Bell was rarely troubled en route to a splendid double hundred, the third of his career

Needing only five runs on the third morning to complete his 22nd first-class hundred - and his first against Gloucestershire - he got to his immediate target in the third over with a cover drive for four and a single to third man off Steve Kirby.

Kirby, with his extra pace and attacking line, was much the biggest threat to Bell’s security but once the strike bowler had finished a five-over spell, there was not much to disturb Warwickshire’s progress.

The morning closed with two dominant batsmen picking off runs almost at will. Trott completed his fifty from 92 balls and Bell moved up to 167 as the session produced 130 with no sign of a chance.

Bell had to get through another blast by Kirby before he completed the third double hundred of his career with a clip over midwicket off Jon Lewis. He then took two more fours off the Gloucestershire captain before a bowling change snapped his concentration.

Hamish Marshall reappeared with his gentle medium pace and Bell lamely planted the first ball into the hands of substitute fielder Vikram Banerjee a few yards in from the cover boundary.

A misplaced pull by Jim Troughton gave Wigley his first success for Gloucestershire and Kirby collected a couple of wickets after tea but did not deserve to be top-edged for two sixes by Neil Carter.

Kirby finished with 3-108 after more rough treatment as Ian Salisbury hammered 48 from 28 balls before edging Jon Lewis behind.