Cricket: County Championship, Division One: Bell Shines Between Showers

Warwickshire, lording it in the top division since beating their local rivals Worcestershire at the end of May, may be champions in waiting, but such is the volatility in the table that the 2003 champions Sussex, though poised only one place above the drop zone, still have plenty to play for.

They could even overtake Warwickshire, and so an intriguing match was in prospect yesterday morning.

The weather is already doing its best to spoil the party, however. Waves of rain sluicing over Edgbaston reduced the day to 17 overs in the morning and a longer final session, 60 overs in all.

On a sluggish wicket Nick Knight and Ian Bell, matching each other run for run, made prudent progress as Sussex's captain Chris Adams permutated his five bowlers, searching for the edge of a bat.

It was one such change, switching Mohammad Akram to the pavilion end late in the day, that brought an immediate result when Knight groped forward and snicked the ball to Ian Ward, tumbling at second slip. The stand, which began early on when Mark Wagh was surprised by one from Akram that bounced and left him slightly, was worth 130.

Bell, fresh from starting his Test career with an innings of 70 at The Oval, was greeted as a returning hero, and soon confirmed that he remains at the top of his form.

His five innings before his England call-up included four centuries and the other was stopped short at 96 not out.

A straight-driven boundary off Akram, taking him to 29, was no more than a gentle push, perfectly timed, and this innings eased him ahead of Robert Key, his rival for an England winter tour place, as the leading first-class run accumulator this season, finishing the evening on 1,609.

He was first pencilled into the England set-up too early for comfort but now, a couple of seasons older, he is the genuine article. On this wicket, however, neither he nor his captain could hope to scintillate, concentrating simply instead on crease occupation.

When Knight reached his half-century by tapping Mushtaq Ahmed into the off side he had faced 125 balls, and Bell, cutting the same bowler for a single, needed 113. He soon celebrated with the first six of the day, though, pulling Robin Martin-Jenkins in front of square into the Eric Hollies Stand. A further boundary, caressing Akram through extra cover, was a text-book illustration of poise and grace.

For most of the time, however, Bell contented himself with dabs and prods, and after the departure of Knight he was joined by Jonathan Trott to see out the day.

Such as it was, this was a good day's cricket, but more sunshine than showers will be needed from now on.