SYDNEY - Ian Bell made 132 and Paul Collingwood 80 on the second day of England's tour game against South Australia on Saturday, raising the team's spirits ahead of next week's first Ashes test in Brisbane.

The pair shared a fourth wicket partnership of 178 to rescue the tourists from a shaky start at Adelaide Oval to reach stumps at 303 for six in reply to South Australia's 247-7 declared.

Kevin Pietersen also chipped in with a quick 32 before he was bowled by Jason Gillespie in the last session, leaving England captain Andrew Flintoff (six) and wicketkeeper Geraint Jones (14) ready to resume on Sunday's third and final day.

"That is the strength of this side, we've got a lot of character," Flintoff told reporters in Adelaide.

"Whoever's asked to do the job has performed and done it and just got on with it. In this game so far that's happened and hopefully next week it will as well."

England's position at the close was much better than they might have expected after they resumed on 24-1, but lost nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard for 10 then new opener Alastair Cook for 12 to slump to 34-3.

Hoggard failed to add to his overnight score when he nicked an outswinger from South Australia's express paceman Shaun Tait to wicketkeeper Shane Deitz.

Then Cook, promoted to opener when Marcus Trescothick walked out on the team this week after a bout of depression, was also caught behind when he tried to play a defensive shot off Gillespie and got a thick edge.

Bell and Collingwood, who are certain to play in next week's first test, survived a hostile spell from Tait and Gillespie before lunch, then piled on the runs in the second session when South Australia decided to rest their frontline pacemen and bowl spinners.

THIRD WICKET

Collingwood, who came in above Pietersen in a possible sneak preview to the batting line-up for Brisbane, was the first to reach his half-century but fell 20 short of his hundred with the total on 212 when he edged leg-spinner Dan Cullen to Deitz.

Bell, who was out without scoring in his only previous innings on tour, struck 12 fours and a six in his hundred before he was eventually caught by South Australian skipper Darren Lehmann off Tait.

With the wicket, the young paceman claimed his third victim of the innings to boost his chances of making the Australian starting line-up for Brisbane, before he left the field with cramp.

"Belly's been in nice touch, he's looked good in the nets," Flintoff said.

"He didn't score any runs in Sydney (against New South Wales) but he's been hitting the ball nicely.

"He played a great knock today along with Paul.

"Paul's been shoved up to number four a little bit earlier than what he's done in the past, but he's responded well to it. He adapts quickly, does Paul. It was a good 80."

England paceman Steve Harmison, who withdrew from the match with a side strain, also provided the tourist's with a boost when he spent more than 15 minutes bowling in the nets before the start of the day's play, gradually building to near full speed.

Flintoff said Harmison had pulled up well after his workout but would get a better indication of his fitness after he wakes up on Sunday morning.

"Injuries for fast bowlers are part and parcel of the job, so we just have to see what happens tomorrow morning," Flintoff said.