Bell smashes 187 as England beat Aus PM's XI

Opener Ian Bell plundered 187 off 145 balls and Stuart Broad captured four wickets as England crushed the Australian Prime Minister's XI by 60 runs in Canberra on Wednesday.

Bell starred in England's imposing 391 for six to set the PM’s eleven a run-chase of almost eight runs an over at Manuka Oval.

He was out on the penultimate ball of the innings, caught by Australian Test batsman and PM XI skipper Chris Rogers off paceman Jason Behrendorff as England made full use of winning the toss.

England then bowled out the home side for 331 off 48.1 overs in an encouraging hit out ahead of Friday's opening tri-series One-Day International against Australia in Sydney.

Pacer Broad snaffled four for 40 off 8.1 overs, including two wickets in two balls and was denied a hat-trick late in the Australian side’s innings.

There were plenty of positives for England, working towards next month's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, with opener Moeen Ali and number three James Taylor both contributing 71.

Bell and Ali put on 113 for the first wicket before Bell combined with Taylor in a stand of 141 for the second.

Bell hit 20 fours and three sixes in the highest score by a batsman for England in a 50-over match against an attack that included two of Australia's World Cup squad members, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell.

Fast bowler Cummins went wicket-less for 52 off six overs, while spinner Maxwell captured one for 63 off nine overs.

West Australian left-arm paceman Behrendorff finished with four for 79 from 10 overs.

But Maxwell gave his World Cup hopes a major boost with 136 from only 89 balls batting at No.3.

He is struggling in the Big Bash League and been public about his fears the slump would have cost him a place in the World Cup squad.

He was the star attraction for the PM's XI, belting 20 fours and six sixes.

But he was forced to play a lone hand with 18-year-old Jake Doran the home side's next top score on 37.

Scorecard

England:

I Bell c Rogers b Behrendorff 187

M Ali c Siaka b Maxwell 71

J Taylor c Handscomb b Behrendorff 71

J Root c Maxwell b Moody 13

J Buttler c and b Behrendorff 25

E Morgan c Handscomb b Behrendorff 7

R Bopara not out 1

C Woakes not out 0

Extras: (b1, lb2, w10, nb3) 16

Total: (for 6 wickets; 50 overs) 391

Fall of wickets: 1-113, 2-254, 3-325, 4-360, 5-383, 6-390.

Bowling: Cummins 6-1-52-0, Behrendorff 10-0-79-4, Mackin 10-0-74-0, Moody 8-0-69-1, Maxwell 9-0-63-1, Siaka 5-0-33-0, Rogers 2-0-18-0.

Australia Prime Minister's XI:

C Rogers c Buttler b Jordan 20

C Bancroft b Woakes 15

G Maxwell c Taylor b Broad 136

P Handscomb b Ali 16

J Doran c Morgan b Tredwell 37

M Condon b Tredwell 19

L Siaka c Woakes b Jordan 27

P Cummins c Woakes b Broad 27

J Behrendorff c Buttler b Broad 14

S Mackin c and b Broad 2

D Moody not out 0

Extras: (b3, w9, nb1, pen5) 18

Total: (all out, 48.1 overs) 331

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-50, 3-135, 4-216, 5-248, 6-264, 7-292, 8-329, 9-329.

Bowling: Broad 8.1-0-40-4, Woakes 9-0-46-1, Jordan 6-0-60-2, Tredwell 8-0-64-2, Bopara 8-0-53-0, Ali 9-0-60-1.

Image: Ian Bell of England celebrates reaching his century during the tour match between the Prime Ministers XI and England at Manuka Oval 

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images