England's Ian Bell, pictured in action in April 2012, ended his near nine-month wait for a first-class century with an unbeaten hundred for Warwickshire on the second day of their rain-affected County Championship match against Durham on Thursday.
©AFP/File - Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

LONDON (AFP) - England's Ian Bell ended his near nine-month wait for a first-class century with an unbeaten hundred for Warwickshire on the second day of their rain-affected County Championship match against Durham on Thursday.

Bell, 59 not out overnight, got to three figures during the 22 overs that were possible in this First Division clash at Edgbaston and finished the day on 106 not out.

His innings was the cornerstone of Warwickshire's 195 for seven, a 32-run lead over visitors Durham.

It was the 39th first-class century of Bell's career and his 19th for Warwickshire, but his first in 20 innings since he made his Test-best 235 against India at The Oval last August.

Bell struggled with spin in the Tests against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and his first three innings for his county this season produced only 34 runs, so this was a particularly timely knock in what will be his final Championship match before the start of England's Test series against the West Indies in a fortnight.

Veteran New Zealand seamer Andre Adams outshone the England stars on show at Old Trafford as he took seven for 32 as Nottinghamshire dismissed county champions Lancashire for 146.

Nottinghamshire finished 145 ahead on 122 for two.

England paceman Stuart Broad could not match county colleague Adams, his 14 wicketless overs costing 60 runs.

Meanwhile, Lancashire and England spearhead James Anderson, who suffered bruising to his thumb on Wednesday but was cleared of any break after a trip to hospital, managed just one over in Nottinghamshire's second innings before leaving the field with illness.