IAN Bell warmed up for the forthcoming one-day series against Bangladesh with a career-best List 'A' score for England Lions as their game against India 'A' at New Road ended in a thrilling tie.

Bell, who captained the side in the absence of Alastair Cook, raced to 158 off 143 balls with one six and 20 fours out of 343 for eight in 50 overs.

But India’s ninth-wicket pair of Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Mithun scrambled a bye off the last ball to level the scores.

A splendid century from India opener Abhinav Mukund laid the platform for the dramatic finale.

It means the two sides will meet again in the final at the same venue on Thursday with West Indies 'A' having been eliminated.

Bell has not played a one-day international for the senior England side since November 2008 against India in Bangalore.

But the Warwickshire batsman showed he will take on Bangladesh in prime form if selected as he surpassed his previous highest List A score of 137 for his county against Yorkshire at Edgbaston in 2005.

He reached his sixth one-day century off 117 balls but then moved up a gear in reaching his third 50 off only 21 deliveries.

He was initially given good support by former Worcestershire wicketkeeper Steve Davies (54) on his former stomping ground in a second-wicket stand of 107 in 17 overs.

Then Bell was aided by Darren Stevens (64) in a third-wicket partnership of 154 in 21 overs.

At one stage, England looked on course for an even more substantial total before losing a flurry of wickets in the final five overs.

India made a positive start to their response with openers Shikhar Dhawan (44) and Mukund putting on 79 in only 10 overs before the former drove Liam Plunkett to cover.

Mukund reached an excellent 50 off 53 balls with seven boundaries and added a further 74 with Ajinkya Rahane (29) for the second wicket.

Rahane was caught and bowled by Ravi Bopara and then Cheteshwar Pujara (27) was run out after turning James Tredwell to Peter Trego at mid-wicket.

But Mukund continued to impress and he reached 114 with 12 fours before being bowled trying to cut Bopara.

India refused to buckle and Manoj Tiwary hit a rapid 46 before Plunkett returned to pick up three wickets in quick succession.

Twelve were needed for victory off the final over from Bopara and Iqbal Abdulla hit the fourth ball to the boundary to bring the runs required tally down to three.

But he was run out off the next ball attempting a second run and it was left to Saha (36 not out) and Mithun to scramble the bye that saw Indian into the final.

Bell’s century was not the only encouraging news for England with Cook due to make his comeback from a back injury in Thursday’s final.

He has missed the last three matches of the series but underwent net practice today and will play if he suffers no reaction in a further session tomorrow.

Lancashire spinner Steven Parry has been called into the squad for the final after a promising start to the campaign in one-day cricket.

He will replace Tredwell who will join up with the senior squad at Trent Bridge along with fellow Lions Bell, Ajmal Shahzad and Jonathan Trott.