England in command as Bell,Pietersen hit tons

Resuming at 75 for no loss,England lost openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss early,but Bell and Pietersen stitched a massive 350-runs partnership 8212; England8217;s best for the third wicket against India 8212; to pile on the agony on the lacklustre Indians who again found the going tough on a good batting track.

Barring the pre-lunch session during which S Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma tasted success,none of the Indian bowlers looked like taking wickets till Suresh Raina sprang a surprise by removing Pietersen at the fag end of the day.

It was a dominating batting display by the two as Bell and Pietersen struck their second century of the four-match series.

Pietersen had struck a double in the first Test at Lord8217;s while Bell cracked 156 in the second at Trent Bridge.

While it was Bell8217;s 16th Test century and fifth of the year,Pietersen recorded the 19th of his career,thereby taking his average above 50 for the first time in two years,against a team that is down 0-3 and has just surrendered the top ranking in Tests to the hosts.

Pietersen,who got to the three-figure mark with a pulled four over mid-wicket off Ishant Sharma,was on the verge of being dismissed by the lanky seamer soon after reaching the landmark,but Gautam Gambhir,running backwards,gave him a reprieve to add to the woes.