AN Ian Bell century left Kent scratching their heads and pondering over a much-needed breakthrough as Warwickshire started to take control of this Frizzell Championship match.

Batting first on a bright, yet showery morning in the second city, Warwickshire recovered from 29 for two to reach 205 for three with Bell unbeaten on 102.

The hosts lost both openers soon after a 40-minute break for rain and then Jonathan Trott, who went following a second interruption in mid-afternoon.

Having won his ninth toss out of 12 Warwickshire skipper Nick Knight reached a fluent 18 but, in trying to force through the off side against Ian Butler, he dragged on to make it 22 for one.

In his next over Butler acheived some additional lift to find the outside edge of Mark Wagh’s bat for a regulation catch to keeper Niall O’Brien.

The championship leaders then re-grouped courtesy of Ian Bell and Trott (50) in an attractive third wicket stand that added 138 in 26 overs.

The partnership ended in Min Patel’s third over when Trott, the ball after reaching his 71-ball half-century, pushed forward to one that lifted, left and took the outside edge for O’Brien’s second catch.

Bell, the PCA cricketer of the month for July after scoring three centuries and an unbeaten 96 in four weeks, duly reached his sixth century of the summer and the 10th of his career from 120 balls and with 19 fours.

Strangely, it was Bell’s first time past 50 in championship cricket at Edgbaston inside a year and only his second ton at the Birmingham Test venue.

Kent: Fulton, Smith, Loudon, Bevan, Walker, Dennington, O'Brien, Patel, Trott, Butler, Joseph.