Strauss leads England charge

The Middlesex left-hander, without a century in his previous 31 Test innings, hit an unbeaten 152 as the tourists extended their lead to 453 runs by reaching 368 for five by late afternoon on the third day.

It was his highest Test score, eclipsing the 147 he scored against South Africa in Johannesburg three years ago, and helped put England into a dominant position. He was followed to three figures by Ian Bell, another player under pressure to perform after going 23 Test innings without a century as England's top six finally delivered in their final innings of the series.

Middlesex left-hander Strauss had scored just 97 runs in the previous five innings of the series having been brought back into the side after missing out in Sri Lanka before Christmas. But Strauss responded to the high stakes with his biggest Test innings and his first century since hitting 116 against Pakistan at Headingley in August, 2006 - 16 Tests ago.

He had resumed overnight on 42 with England already 176 runs ahead on 91 for two with a responsibility to guide the tourists into a big enough lead to declare on a pitch looking flatter by the day. He took nine overs to reach his first half-century in eight innings with a drive down the ground for four off Martin and helped forge a useful 63-run stand with Kevin Pietersen.

Hampshire batsman Pietersen had looked comfortable at the crease during the stand and seemed in control of his innings when he fell mid-way through the morning session.

Pushing forward defensively to left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, Pietersen was beaten by the turn and edged low to allow Ross Taylor - filling in for the ill Stephen Fleming at the time - to take a catch to his right. But that was the last success New Zealand were able to celebrate in the day with Strauss and Ian Bell, another batsman under pressure for his place after a modest series, taking full advantage of ideal batting conditions.

Bell walked out to bat with just 140 runs to his name in his previous five innings but quickly decided to try and be dominant and launched Vettori over long on for an early six. He reached his half century after only an hour and 20 minutes batting, hitting eight fours and two sixes to reach the landmark, and provided the aggressive thrust of England's innings as Strauss crawled towards his crucial 11th Test century.

Warwickshire batsman Bell claimed his first hundred since hitting an unbeaten 109 against West Indies at Lord's last May shortly before tea with a top edge down to the fine leg boundary for the 16th four of his innings. But with big hundreds on offer to both batsmen on a flat wicket and against a New Zealand attack without seamer Kyle Mills and all-rounder Jacob Oram, Bell missed out when he chipped Vettori to mid-off for 110.

Paul Collingwood also failed to cash in on the conditions and situation and after racing to 22 off 19 balls, gave a tame return catch to Vettori. Their failures, however, spurred on Strauss to hit his first Test 150 as England powered on towards a huge final innings target for New Zealand.