CHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom (AFP) — Ian Bell’s third hundred of this Ashes series rescued England from another top-order collapse and left them well-placed at stumps yesterday on the third day of the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street.

England were 234 for five in their second innings, a lead of 202 runs, with Bell 105 not out and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan unbeaten on four.

They’d been in dire straits at 49 for three when Bell, who earlier in his Test career was criticised for not making runs when they were most needed, came to the crease following a treble strike by fast bowler Ryan Harris.

But a fourth-wicket partnership of 106 between Bell and Kevin Pietersen (44) checked Australia’s advance.

Bell then added 66 with Jonny Bairstow (28) before the Yorkshireman was out shortly before stumps, caught behind off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Having twice made 109 in England’s victories at Trent Bridge and Lord’s that left them 2-0 up ahead of the drawn third Test at Old Trafford that saw his side retain the Ashes, Bell’s latest century gave the hosts hope of securing a win in this match that would see them take the five-match series outright.

Earlier, England dismissed Australia for 270, the tourists held to a slender first innings lead of 32.

Australia resumed yesterday on 222 for five, with Rogers 101 not out following the 35-year-old left-handed opener’s maiden Test hundred on Saturday, made in the face of excellent seam bowling from Stuart Broad, who finished the innings with five wickets for 71 runs.

Scoreboard

England 1st Innings 238 (A Cook 51; N Lyon 4-42)

Australia 1st Innings (overnight: 222-5)

C Rogers c Prior b Swann 110

D Warner b Broad 3

U Khawaja c Prior b Broad 0

M Clarke c Cook b Broad 6

S Smith c Prior b Bresnan 17

S Watson c Prior b Broad 68

B Haddin lbw b Swann 13

P Siddle c Cook b Anderson 5

R Harris lbw b Broad 28

N Lyon lbw b Anderson 4

J Bird not out 0

Extras (b2, lb11, w1, nb2) 16

Total (all out, 89.3 overs, 409 mins) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-12 (Warner), 2-12 (Khawaja), 3-49 (Clarke), 4-76 (Smith), 5-205 (Watson), 6-224 (Haddin), 7-233 (Rogers), 8-245 (Siddle), 9-258 (Lyon), 10-270 (Harris)

Bowling: Anderson 25-8-65-2; Broad 24.3-7-71-5 (2nb, 1w); Bresnan 19-3-63-1; Swann 18-5-48-2; Trott 3-0-10-0;

England 2nd Innings

A Cook c Haddin b Harris 22

J Root b Harris 2

J Trott c Haddin b Harris 23

K Pietersen c Rogers b Lyon 44

I Bell not out 105

J Bairstow c Haddin b Lyon 28

T Bresnan not out 4

Extras (b4, lb2) 6

Total (5 wkts, 74 overs, 316 mins) 234

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Root), 2-42 (Cook), 3-49 (Trott), 4-155 (Pietersen), 5-221 (Bairstow)

To bat: M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, J Anderson

Bowling: Harris 20-1-74-3; Bird 17.3-5-45-0; Watson 6.3-1-22-0; Siddle 12-3-40-0; Lyon 17-2-46-2; Smith 1-0-1-0

Match position: England lead Australia by 202 runs with five second-innings wickets standing.

Toss: England

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Tony Hill (NZL)

TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)