SOUTHAMPTON (AFP) – Sri Lanka interim coach Stuart Law said Ian Bell was proving a "pain in the backside" for his team after the England batsman's second hundred in three matches helped set up the hosts' victory bid in the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl.
Bell's 119 not out led to a bold England declaration on 377 for eight, a first innings lead of 193.
Sri Lanka were 112 for three in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, still 81 runs behind, and with the experienced Mahela Jayawardene out for just six shortly before the close.
But Kumar Sangakkara, captaining Sri Lanka in the absence of the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, was 44 not out at stumps.
Bell's unbeaten century in the first Test in Cardiff provided the platform for an innings and 14-run victory that gave England a 1-0 series lead (the second match at Lord's was drawn).
Former Australia batsman Law, who played against Bell in English county cricket, said the 29-year-old right-hander was now making scores worthy of his undoubted talent.
"Playing good cricket is all about consistency and Ian has done that in the last 12-18 months, started to fulfil the promise he showed coming through the ranks as a youngster at Warwickshire," Law said of Bell, who scored 329 runs at 65.80, with one hundred, during England's victorious Ashes campaign.
"It was another great innings today (Sunday), he's a pain in the backside to be honest with you, the way he plays."
Bell, responding to Law's comments, told reporters: "I feel like I am batting as well as I can at the minute. It's nice to contribute to us getting in winning positions.
"I think in the past I've played well at times, probably not when it's got very tough, but hopefully in the last 12-18 months I've started to put in performances when the team have needed them most and doing it more consistently," he added.
Bell's 14th Test hundred was backed up by aggressive bowling from the England pace trio of James Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Stuart Broad, who all took a wicket each before the close.
"I thought we deserved more than three wickets really," said Bell. "We know the weather forecast isn't great but, if we can bowl like that tomorrow, hopefully 30-40 overs may be enough."
Broad produced an excellent leg-cutter to have Jayawardene caught behind for just six and Bell said: "It's like when we go to Australia and we just want (Ricky) Ponting out as the big scalp.
"Jayawardene and Sanga are exactly in the same class."
How Sangakkara bats on Monday may go some way to determining Law's own position and the coach said: "He looked very determined this evening, even more so than he has done in this tour, and that's a good thing for Sri Lanka."
As for his future, Law, who was appointed on a temporary basis in succession to compatriot Trevor Bayliss, said: "I have spoken to the right people so hopefully it will be resolved very soon."
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