Cricket round-up: Bell sparkles as Lions tie

Ian Bell warmed up for England's one-day series against Bangladesh by making 158 for England Lions against India A at New Road yesterday as the final round-robin match of their triangular one-day series ended in a tie.

Bell dominated an innings also featuring half-centuries from Steven Davies and Darren Stevens as the Lions – already qualified for tomorrow's final – posted 343 for 8. The tourists lost their eighth wicket off the penultimate ball of their 50 overs but ran a bye off Ravi Bopora's final delivery to square the scores.

In the Championship, Michael Carberry also made 158 for Hampshire against Kent at the Rose Bowl, where Neil McKenzie made 113 as the pair put on 254 for the fourth wicket.

Essex seized the upper hand at Chelmsford, where a hostile Maurice Chambers finished with 6 for 68 as title favourites Nottinghamshire added only 54 in losing their last five wickets for a first-innings lead of just 26 before Jaik Mickleburgh (91), John Maunders (70) and Matt Walker (70) put Essex in a strong position.