11 November,2010 10:35 AM IST | | Agencies
Paul Collingwood featured in an unbroken partnership with Ian Bell to rescue England on the opening day of their three-day tour match against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval Thursday.
The Durham right-hander took to the local bowling, hitting 10 fours and a six in his unbeaten 73 to send the tourists to tea at 184 for four off 56 overs.
Bell was providing solid support in an unfinished fifth-wicket stand of 89 to be not out 29.
England had been struggling at 95 for four with the dismissal of Kevin Pietersen in the 34th over, but Collingwood and Bell recovered England's position with a fighting stand.
South Australia's beanpole paceman Peter George had troubled England's top order taking the wickets of skipper Andrew Strauss (4), Jonathan Trott (12) and Alastair Cook (32).
George, who made his Test debut for Australia in India last month, had the figures of 3 for 42 off 13 overs at tea.
Strauss, who steered England to victory in last weekend's opening tour game against Western Australia with an unbeaten 120, went cheaply in the day's third over.
The England captain tried to glance a delivery down the leg-side from George and offered a fine touch to diving wicketkeeper Graham Manou.
Trott was dropped on 11 before he attempted to pull George in the 11th over only to dolly an easy caught and bowled for 12.
Trott had a life in the previous over when he edged paceman Ben Edmondson but was put down by Dan Harris at slip.
Cook was out in the second over after lunch for 32 after getting an edge off George to Manou.
South Australia snared the big wicket of Pietersen as he hooked paceman Ben Edmondson to Aiden Blizzard at deep square leg.
Blizzard juggled the catch on the boundary rope and nearly lost his balance before sending Pietersen on his way for 33 off 54 balls with five fours and a six.
England went in with the same team which opened their tour with a six-wicket victory over Western Australia in a three-day match in Perth last weekend.
Coach Andy Flower said he made no apologies for leaving out fringe Test contenders as he looks to give his preferred lineup experience of Australian conditions ahead of the first Test at Brisbane's Gabba ground, starting on November 25.
The English are out to retain the Ashes, but are also looking to win their first Test series in Australia since 1986-1987.
