England have smashed the Prime Minister’s XI all over Manuka Oval, with Ian Bell scoring 187 in their 6/391 from 50 overs in Canberra on Wednesday. Bell’s innings is the highest score by a batsman for England in a 50-over match, with the right-hander belting three sixes and 20 fours in his 145-ball knock.

He put on 113 for the first wicket with Moeen Ali, before the latter was caught by Papua New Guinea’s Lega Siaka for 71 off the bowling of Australia World Cup squad member Glenn Maxwell. Ali’s 71 came off 49 balls, with the left-hander launching everything at the PM’s XI, including his bat, as he lost control of the willow, sending it flying towards square leg while trying to dispose of a Simon Mackin delivery.

Bell cruised to his century in the 37th over, before ramping up his aggression in the closing stages of England’s innings.

He was dismissed for 187 with the penultimate ball of the tourist’s 50 overs, caught by PM’s XI skipper Chris Rogers off the bowling of Jason Behrendorff.

Canberra product Behrendorff took 4-79 to continue to thrust his name in front of national selectors, on the back of a stellar season for Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers.

David Moody, the nephew of former Australian all-rounder Tom, took the wicket of Joe Root (caught by Maxwell) for 13 joining Maxwell and Behrendorff as the wicket takers. James Taylor made a watchful 71 for England, while Jos Butler made 25. England skipper Eoin Morgan made seven.

The match is another warm-up for England ahead of the tri-series with India and Australia which starts in Sydney on Friday.

They begin their World Cup campaign on February 14 at the MCG against Australia.