Bell shines bright

Ian Bell hits over the top on his way to an unbeaten 131 off 121 balls for England in Colombo

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Ian Bell continued his excellent one-day form with an unbeaten century as England opened their tour of Sri Lanka in style.

Bell carried his bat after hitting 131 off 121 balls to pave the way for an 80-run victory over a Sri Lanka Cricket XI, England’s only warm-up game before the five-match limited-overs series gets under way.

Man of the series in England’s NatWest Series triumph over India, Bell carried the tourists to a daunting total of 314 for four in Colombo.

He hit 12 fours and four sixes, helping England recover from a slow start with the bat before an impressive bowling display saw the Cricket XI bowled out for 234 in reply.

Happy to be cautious at first while Kevin Pietersen dominated a 91-run stand off 58 balls by hitting a 29-ball fifty, Bell accelerated as the innings reached its climax.

Having seen England to 104 for one at the halfway stage and reached his half-century off 72 balls, he advanced to three figures off a further 37 deliveries and helped England add 90 in the final 10 overs.

His innings included a run of four sixes in five balls off leg-spinner Malinga Bandara and, although he was dropped on 88 in the deep, he deserved his slice of good fortune to reach three figures and establish himself in prime form prior to the start of the one-day series.

Kevin Pietersen opens his shoulders in a 29-ball fifty which included three sixes

England started slowly, having been given a clean bill of health with all of the five players who had been suffering from a stomach virus - Alastair Cook, Pietersen, Luke Wright, Paul Collingwood and Stuart Broad - declaring themselves fit after their illness.

Cook, dropped for the final NatWest Series match against India after scoring only four runs in his previous three games, was understandably determined to deliver a performance and force his way back into the side.

Given a new opening partner in the form of Phil Mustard - who replaced broken thumb victim Matt Prior - Cook seemed intent on taking his chance during a patient opening stand.

Mustard, who won his place after an outstanding domestic season in one-day cricket, took 15 balls to get off the mark and became frustrated before being caught at mid-on for 17.

But Cook battled on to make a determined 66, which was cut short when he was caught at long-on.

Pietersen sparked England’s acceleration by hitting successive sixes off Bandara, while Bell took the opportunity to continue his revival as a one-day player.

Phil Mustard watches Chamara Kapugedera compile a valiant but futile 75 off 87 deliveries

England would have been equally pleased with their display in the field with every bowler except Dimitri Mascarenhas, who was suffering with a bruised hand, being given a run-out prior to the start of the series.

Both Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom impressed in their several spells but England’s biggest pleasure would have come from the display of Broad in his first international appearance since his humiliation in the ICC World Twenty20.

Hammered for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh, England were always confident of Broad being able to bounce back strongly and continue his international career.

He vindicated that faith by taking two early catches to help remove both openers, then claimed a sharp return catch to claim his first wicket before ending the determined resistance of Bandara, who hit 27 off 36 balls, by winning an lbw appeal.

Only Chamara Kapugedera looked accomplished enough to trouble England before Anderson returned to end his innings of 75 off 87 balls and effectively finish the contest.