LEEDS, Aug 5: England batsman Ian Bell scored his third century in consecutive Tests before Pakistan battled back in fine style on the second day of the third Test at Headingley on Saturday.

The touring side, replying to England's first innings of 515, closed on 202 for two, Mohammad Yousuf (91 not out) and Younis Khan (64 not out) looking increasingly entrenched after putting on a stand of 166.

Bell outshone Kevin Pietersen with his third century in consecutive Tests against Pakistan.

The home side, resuming on 347 for six, lost both batsmen in the morning, Bell making 119 to Pietersen's 135, before Pakistan, 1-0 down in the four-Test series, stumbled to 66 for two at tea.

Both Pakistan openers fell within 10 balls and in the space of two runs.

Taufiq Umar was caught behind by a diving Chris Read off Matthew Hoggard to make it 34 for one before Younis Khan called Salman Butt for a tight single and Pietersen completed the run-out with a direct hit.

Younis was 15 not out at the break with Mohammad Yousuf on a nervy 11 after being dropped off a sharp chance to Paul Collingwood at third slip off Steve Harmison.

Pietersen and Bell put on 141 although their partnership was interrupted on Friday when Pietersen retired hurt with cramp in his left forearm.

All of Pakistan's four frontline bowlers conceded more than 100 runs, Umar Gul the pick with five for 123.

It was the 24-year-old Bell's fifth Test century and his fourth against Pakistan. He also became the first England player to score three hundreds in consecutive Tests in the same home series since Allan Lamb against West Indies in 1984.

Resuming on 66, he had one early scare, diving back into the crease at the non-striker's end just in time after a straight drive from Pietersen was glanced on to the stumps by Umar Gul’s fingertips.

The rest of his morning, however, was exemplary, his best stroke an exquisite late cut to the boundary off the same bowler.

Bell got to three figures by driving strike bowler Mohammad Sami through the on-side for the right-hander's 11th boundary.

Bell, who took 172 balls and 225 minutes to complete his achievement, had expected to be dropped after the first Test of the series only to be reprieved when Andrew Flintoff broke down with more ankle trouble.

Pietersen, who began the day quietly after reaching 104 not out on Friday, went on the attack nearing lunch with a string of boundaries before holing out to long off facing Sami. He faced 169 deliveries and hit 20 fours and two sixes.

Bell was finally dismissed by leg spinner Danish Kaneria as he shaped to cut. It was the first time in the series that a Pakistan bowler could celebrate taking Bell's wicket. His one previous dismissal of the series had been a run-out.

Sajid Mahmood (34 not out) and Harmsion got England past 500 by hammering 56 for the ninth wicket, with Harmison hitting 36 off 27 balls, including four fours and two sixes.

Graham Gooch trumped Bell's scoring sequence in 1990, but over two home series rather than one. He scored 154 and 30 against New Zealand, then added 333 and 123 against India, followed by 116 in the next Test.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND (1st Innings, overnight 347-6):

M.E. Trescothick c and b Sami 28

A.J. Strauss c Younis b Shahid Nazir 36

A.N. Cook c and b Umar Gul 23

K.P. Pietersen c Shahid Nazir b Sami 135

P.D. Collingwood c Taufiq b Umar Gul 31

I.R. Bell b Kaneria 119

C.M.W. Read lbw b Umar Gul 38

M.J. Hoggard b Umar Gul 0

S.I. Mahmood b Umar Gul 34

S.J. Harmison c Sami b Kaneria 36

M.S. Panesar not out 5

EXTRAS (B-13, LB-6, NB-11) 30

TOTAL (all out, 123 overs) 515

FALL OF WKTS: 1-67, 2-67, 3-110, 4-192, 5-345, 6-347, 7-421, 8-445, 9-501.

BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 26-1-135-2 (6nb); Umar Gul 29-4-123-5 (2nb); Shahid Nazir 28-7-101-1 (3nb); Danish Kaneria 34-4-111-2; Taufiq Umar 2-0-8-0; Salman Butt 4-0-18-0.

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Salman Butt run out 20

Taufiq Umar c Read b Hoggard 7

Younis Khan not out 64

Mohammad Yousuf not out 91

EXTRAS (LB-12, W-3, NB-5) 20

TOTAL (for two wkts, 55 overs) 202

FALL OF WKTS: 1-34, 2-36

TO BAT: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir, Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria.

BOWLING: Hoggard 14-1-43-1 (5nb, 3w); Harmison 14-0-60-0; Mahmood 12-3-48-0; Panesar 14-6-25-0; Pietersen 1-0-14-0.—Agencies