Nottingham: After Ashton Agar put Australia on the top in the first innings, England fought back hard through Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad to take a 261 run lead with four wickets remaining, by the end of Day 3 in the first Ashes Test here on Friday.
Ian Bell is on the course of making a century as his unbeaten 95 steered Ashes-holders England to 326 for six in their second innings at stumps on Friday. Together with Broad, 47 not out, Bell had so far added an unbroken 108 for the seventh wicket.
It was a potentially decisive partnership as the most runs ever scored by a side in the fourth innings to win a Test at Trent Bridge is 284 for six which England made against New Zealand at the Nottingham ground in 2004.
Earlier Kevin Pietersen played a fantastic knock of 64 runs after the hosts were two dowm at 11. KP along with captain Alastair Cook added 110 runs for third wicket. Cook was later dismissed on 50.