IAN Bell continued his remarkable record at The Ageas Bowl to ensure a first-innings lead for Warwickshire against a Hampshire attack without Reece Topley.

The former England batsman frustrated Hampshire with his sixth Ageas Bowl century in 11 innings as Warwickshire closed the penultimate day on 283-6 after bowling Hampshire out for 202.

It was comfortably the slowest of Bell’s half dozen tons here (four of which were for England, including two in the ground's two Tests).

Liam Dawson was particularly parsimonious (23-7-27-0) as Bell, having scored a fluent first fifty from 68 balls, faced 44 in the nineties before reaching his ton from 218.

Bell was 130 not out at the close (248 balls, 12 fours), after putting on 151 in 49 overs with Chris Woakes (66), who was Edwards' third lbw victim to the last ball of the day.

Warwickshire captain Bell, who made 104, 119*, 167 and 23 in his previous first-class matches here for his county and for England - arrived at the crease after Fidel Edwards trapped the left-handed Ian Westwood lbw as he shouldered arms in his first over.

Edwards (3-80) also pinned Varun Chopra in his next over and Warwickshire were 59-3 when first-change Vince had his England Lions teammate Jonathan Trott caught by first-slip Sean Ervine with his fourth ball.

Warwickshire were 132-5 after Ryan McLaren and James Tomlinson claimed their first wickets of the season; Sam Hain (25) was caught down the leg side before Tim Ambrose (11) gifted a leading edge to Tom Alsop.

But Bell, who turned 34 yesterday, found a willing partner in Woakes, who faced 148 balls for his 66.

He scored at a run a ball after reaching three figures and may well make his latest Ageas Bowl ton a double, with Hampshire's first match of the season heading for draw following the loss of the second day to rain.

Hampshire captain James Vince said: “Taking the new ball at the end there was going to go one of two ways.

"We could have taken a couple of wickets and had them 240 for eight or something.

“But Belly has played a good knock there.

“The wicket on day one when we were batting had more in it for the seamers but they perhaps bowled better than we have.

“It is a slow pitch and hard to get something out. I thought we hung in well and we just have to take a couple more wickets in the morning to get our bonus point and bat out the rest of the day.

“The test for us will be to get through the new ball and keep some wickets in hand.”

Bell said: “It puts us in a nice position in the game. Obviously we lost a day to weather but we tried to play with some intent to see if we can put Hampshire under some pressure tomorrow.

“We have given ourselves an opportunity to bat on a little bit but still give us a load of overs to have a go. We might not have the time to win the game but we’ll give a good go."

Bell, who was left out of England squad for the tour of South Africa earlier this year, was delighted to start the season with his 51st first-class hundred and his first since last June. 

“I started cramping in my arms. I think my body was like you haven’t got past 20 balls for a while, so the body was getting readjusted to spending a day in the middle.

“We wanted to bat the day and I think we’re in a position where only one team can win tomorrow and keep the pressure on Hampshire."

Hampshire are expected to give an update on Topley's fractured hand tomorrow. 

Hampshire bowling: Edwards 17.3-3-80-3, Tomlinson 18-2-71-1, McLaren 18-3-53-1, Vince 4-0-14-1, Dawson 23-7-27-0, Smith 8-2-30-0, Alsop 1-0-2-0.