Under-fire duo end century droughts

Both batsmen entered their final innings of the series knowing another failure could result in the selectors looking elsewhere for the start of the home Test series against the same opponents in May.

But with pressure on them to deliver, they hit tons to help the tourists build a daunting 387-run lead, England reaching 302 for three at tea on the third day at McLean Park.

Middlesex left-hander Strauss had scored just 97 runs in the previous five innings, having been brought back into the side after missing out in Sri Lanka before Christmas. But he responded to the high stakes with an unbeaten century, his first in 31 Test innings, while Bell hit his first hundred in 23 innings.

Strauss reached the milestone with a cover drive off seamer Chris Martin to claim his 16th boundary. He punched the air with delight after making three figures for the first time since scoring 116 against Pakistan at Headingley in August, 2006 - 16 Tests ago.

He had resumed overnight on 40 - 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 midway 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 Bell 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 in May shortly before tea with a top edge down to the fine leg boundary for the 16th four of his innings.