England Take Total Command
Cricket: Alastair Cook and Ian Bell each posted a second century in successive Tests as England took control against Pakistan at Old Trafford.
Alastair Cook and Ian Bell each posted a second century in successive Tests as England took control against Pakistan at Old Trafford.
England augmented their first-day gains, Cook (127) and then Bell (106 not out) helping them to 461 for nine declared and a first-innings lead of 342 in reply to the tourists' paltry 119.
Cook reached his third century at this level from 208 balls, having hit 14 fours, in a typically unflashy but highly skilled career-best innings.
There were 13 fours, and a six over long-on off Shahid Afridi, for Bell in his fourth Test hundred - which came up in only 127 balls as he took advantage of the pace available in the pitch for shot-making.
England had a transient worry over an injury to Geraint Jones who took a nasty blow on his right hand from Mohammad Sami before going cheaply to the same bowler. But the wicket-keeper was able to take his place behind the stumps when England's declaration gave Pakistan four overs of second-innings batting - which they came through unscathed, with 12 runs on the board.
Instead, there was more concern at stumps about Steve Harmison who wrecked Pakistan's batting yesterday but managed only one over tonight before having to leave the field with what looked like a strain around his rib cage.
England augmented their first-day gains, Cook (127) and then Bell (106 not out) helping them to 461 for nine declared and a first-innings lead of 342 in reply to the tourists' paltry 119.
Cook reached his third century at this level from 208 balls, having hit 14 fours, in a typically unflashy but highly skilled career-best innings.
There were 13 fours, and a six over long-on off Shahid Afridi, for Bell in his fourth Test hundred - which came up in only 127 balls as he took advantage of the pace available in the pitch for shot-making.
England had a transient worry over an injury to Geraint Jones who took a nasty blow on his right hand from Mohammad Sami before going cheaply to the same bowler. But the wicket-keeper was able to take his place behind the stumps when England's declaration gave Pakistan four overs of second-innings batting - which they came through unscathed, with 12 runs on the board.
Instead, there was more concern at stumps about Steve Harmison who wrecked Pakistan's batting yesterday but managed only one over tonight before having to leave the field with what looked like a strain around his rib cage.
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