Ian Bell launched a boundary blitz at The Oval today to put England on the scent of another eye- catching performance against South Africa. Three days ago, in Nottingham, Bell and opening partner Matt Prior were required only to put the finishing touches to a 10-wicket victory for Kevin Pietersen's team after the visitors had been routed for 83.

But here, with England chasing a third victory to clinch the five-match NatWest series two games ahead of schedule, Bell had bags of scope to impress once South Africa opted against batting first. And impress he did, dominating a brilliant stand of 101.

Wicketkeeper Prior was no slouch, contributing 33 from 37 balls before being dismissed in the 16th over. But Bell still left him well behind, roaring to 50 from 36 deliveries and crashing 10 fours and one six along the way.

England had only one run on the board after two overs. That, however, was the lull before the storm with Bell putting Makhaya Ntini to the sword as South Africa's most experienced paceman conceded 47 runs from five overs.

Bell's hopes of a century ended when he fell leg before to spinner Johan Botha for 73, from 77 deliveries. Owais Shah was then bowled by Jacques Kallis for 23 off the first ball of the 26th over to leave England 146 for three.

Kallis, leading South Africa in the absence of injured Graeme Smith, presumably chose to bowl on the grounds that humid conditions would help his attack rather than because he feared his team might get blown away again in double-quick time.

Kallis was right, too, because the new ball swung for both Dale Steyn and Ntini. But after a tight over apiece the pair came under heavy attack from England's openers.

Bell drove and pulled Steyn for boundaries to get the scoreboard moving, soon followed by a bizarre over from Ntini costing 17 runs. It included one wide and two free hits for no-balls, which Prior edged for four and hoisted for a straight six. Although the ball still occasionally beat the bat, runs flowed so freely that England had 50 on the board from 45 deliveries.

Bell, having started unpromisingly by playing out a maiden against Ntini, brought up the first significant landmark by thick-edging the same bowler for four. But the Warwickshire batsman was only warming up.

A glorious extra-cover drive, all along the ground, was followed by an offdriven six and a square cut for four as Bell completed a terrific 36-ball 50.

England have been guilty, far too often, of not making nearly enough use of the 'power plays' but today they had 77 on the board after 10 overs.

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur made a point of praising the opposition yesterday, saying that Pietersen's team were clearly on the up. But while England's middle-order batsmen and fast bowlers have taken most of the praise, today's first-wicket partnership represented another important step forward.

The fun ended immediately after the century stand had been posted. Albie, the all-rounder in the Morkel family, gained enough bounce to defeat Prior's attempt to pull and the ball looped up for Herschelle Gibbs to take the catch, diving forward.

Kallis gambled by not delaying the remaining two 'power plays' when some captains would have opted to give their bowlers a bit more protection in the deep. But Prior's departure, and good work from the Morkels, justified his decision with the second block of 10 overs yielding a more modest 49 runs.