Bell leads England to rare victory
Bell starred again to keep his average above 40 in both Tests and ODIs
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Friday, 08, Sep 2006 10:15
Ian Bell continued his devastating form to see England home against Pakistan by eight wickets at Trent Bridge after passing their target of 236 with ease.
Bell hit an unbeaten 86 off 111 balls to help the hosts' to only their sixth win in the last 21 ODIs to trail the series 2-1 with one match to play.
He put on a 110-run partnership with skipper Andrew Strauss (78) as Duncan Fletcher's nullified the threat from Pakistan's seam attack under the lights to finish on 237-2.
Strauss was bowled by part-time spinner Mohammad Hafeez after earlier surviving a controversial slip catch by opposite number Inzamam Ul-Haq.
The Pakistan captain claimed a catch but the third umpire ruled the ball had hit the ground although television replays were inconclusive.
Ed Joyce (13) fell early to dangerman Mohammad Asif to leave England on 38-1 but Bell and Kevin Pietersen (41 not out) saw them home with 22 balls to spare.
Earlier, Abdul Razzaq produced a brutal display of hitting with an unbeaten 75 off 72 balls as the tourists recovered from 138-7 to set England a competitive total.
The explosive all-rounder smashed five sixes and five boundaries as England's seamers failed to match the good work done by the spinners.
Razzaq hit 26 off Sajid Mahmood (1-58) in the penultimate over and 21 in the final over from Jon Lewis (2-49).
Michael Yardy celebrated his return to the team taking 3-24 from his ten overs of spin.
The final match of Pakistan's eventful tour is on Sunday at Edgbaston for the fifth ODI.