Bell (70) tolls over West Indies

LONDON: Ian Bell notched a debut half century and Andrew Flintoff hit his eighth in eight Tests to help England to 313 for five at stumps on day one of the fourth npower Test against West Indies at the Oval yesterday. Flintoff also brought up 2,000 runs in Test cricket with an attacking 72 not out. Geraint Jones was with him on 22 at the close. Bell (70) earlier shared a 146-run stand with captain Michael Vaughan (66) as England set about chasing a record-equalling seventh successive Test win, having already wrapped up the four-match series 3-0. However, West Indies hit back by removing both batsman in the final session and will be looking to restrict the hosts to under 400 today. Bell, with an average of more than 80 for Warwickshire in county cricket this season, replaced the injured Graham Thorpe and played some streaky defensive shots early on, as well as being hit on the shoulder by a feisty Fidel Edwards ball.

The 22-year-old went on to stroke 10 elegant fours before he nicked a sharp Jermaine Lawson ball behind, giving the recalled paceman his second wicket after he dismissed Andrew Strauss before lunch. Vaughan, making his 50th Test appearance, edged Dwayne Bravo to Brian Lara at slip in practically his only loose shot of the innings. England had been in trouble on 64 for three after lunch when Marcus Trescothick (30) and Robert Key fell within four balls of each other. The south London ground is undergoing redevelopment but a full house still arrived to see England begin their quest to record a second whitewash in a row after the 3-0 rout of New Zealand in May and June. Vaughan won the toss and opted to bat on the traditionally flat Oval wicket despite some heavy early cloud cover which delayed the start by 25 minutes. West Indies, who were again untidy in the field, made two changes with Lawson and Dwayne Smith replacing injured duo Dave Mohammed and Pedro Collins.