Strauss guides England towards win

Resuming the fourth morning needing a further 218 runs to claim an advantage in the three-Test series on 76 for one, England began the day knowing they would have to eclipse the highest ever fourth innings winning total of 231 for three set against West Indies in 2004.

But the experience of Strauss and captain Michael Vaughan enabled England to overcome New Zealand's best efforts during a 90-run stand which helped them progress to 171 for two at lunch, needing just 123 more runs for victory.

The tourists, as expected, began with seamer Iain O'Brien running into the strong winds from the Stretford End while captain Daniel Vettori delivered his left-arm spin from the Sir Brian Statham End, where he claimed a five-wicket haul yesterday.

Vaughan, resuming on 12 overnight, had added only two runs when he survived an early scare with O'Brien appealing for lbw with a delivery which jagged sharply into his pads but would probably have missed leg stump.

It was a rare opportunity for the tourists, however, with the England pair batting comfortably together through 24 overs this morning before their stand was broken.

On a pitch demonstrating far less demons than on the previous day, Vaughan in particular looked confident against Vettori and hit his first boundary of the day through the covers for four to bring the target down below 200 in the sixth over of the day.

The pair brought up their half-century partnership in just 58 minutes at the crease together, prompting Vettori to make a double change with Jacob Oram being brought on to bowl into the wind while Chris Martin replaced the captain.

Strauss claimed his fourth successive half-century with an edge for four to third man after two and a half hours at the crease and Vaughan looked set to join him to the milestone.

But just two runs short of his half-century, Vaughan played a loose drive outside off stump to Martin and edged behind to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum to earn New Zealand their first breakthrough of the day.