Phelps keeps his eye on the wall

England (535/6) against South Africa at tea, day 2 Ian Bell’s Test-best score of 171 not out left England in a commanding position in the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s here on Friday. England, at tea on the second day, were 535 for six - the first time in 15 Tests they made more than 500 or more in the first innings since their 570 for seven against the West Indies at Headingley last year. Stuart Broad, belying his status as a No8, was 54 not out, having played his part in a century stand and completing a fine half-century with a superb backfoot cover-driven four off Makhaya Ntini in the last over before tea. Earlier, South Africa-born Kevin Pietersen had made a dominating 152 in his first Test innings against the Proteas. His partnership of 286 with Bell, who’d come in when the hosts were in trouble at 117 for three, was an England record for the fourth-wicket against South Africa, surpassing the 197 shared by Wally Hammond and Les Ames at Cape Town in 1938/39. Four members of the Proteas’ attack had conceded more than 100 runs each with Jacques Kallis’s 20 overs costing 70 runs. England resumed after lunch on 422 for five, with Bell 118 not out and Tim Ambrose four not out. But before they’d added another run Ambrose was out, edging fast bowler Morne Morkel, who at tea had taken four for 102, low to South Africa captain Graeme Smith at first slip. The elegant Bell was unconcerned, going down the pitch to loft left-arm spinner Paul Harris for six over long-off. He then showed his control by precisely cutting Morkel through the offside for another four before giving himself room to force Harris off the backfoot through the covers for a high-class boundary. Bell completed his 150 in classic style by driving fast bowler Dale Steyn straight down the ground for four into the pavilion fence. He’d then faced 252 balls with one six and 15 fours in just over six hours at the crease. Bell had come into this match under pressure after making just 45 runs in his four previous Test innings against New Zealand and with his place under threat from all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s imminent return from injury. But he maintained the form he’d shown in making 215 for Warwickshire against Gloucestershire in a recent County Championship match. The 26-year-old went past his previous Test-best of 162 not out against minnows Bangladesh at the Riverside three years ago with a cut four off Ntini. Smith appeared to be running out of ideas, with little in the way of unusual field placings or innovative bowling changes to worry the batsmen. Broad may be a pace bowler but the son of former England opener Chris made his name in schoolboy cricket as a batsman and it was easy to see why as the left-hander whipped Harris for a legside boundary. Hopes both England’s centurions would bat through the morning session ended when Pietersen’s gloved hook off Morkel was caught down the legside by wicket-keeper Mark Boucher. And two balls after a brief rain break, Paul Collingwood was given out caught at short leg by Hashim Amla off Harris. England began Friday on their overnight score of 309 for three with Pietersen 104 not out and Bell unbeaten on 75. Pietersen produced an array of fine shots with a front foot clip off Ntini, whose first six overs on Friday cost an expensive 40 runs, through the legside reminiscent of West Indies great Vivian Richards. He gave just one chance, on 133, when Kallis failed to hold a sharp caught and bowled off a powerful drive.