Strauss, Bell centuries put England in charge against NZ

Andrew Strauss made an unbeaten 173 and Ian Bell 110 as England ground down New Zealand to close in on a series clinching victory on the third day of the third cricket test on Monday.

Strauss and Bell shared a 187-run partnership which emphasized the dominance of England's batsmen who had given its team a total of 416 for five and an unapproachable lead of 501 at stumps with two days remaining.

Their centuries were dissimilar in style but equally important as England ruthlessly consolidated a 85-run lead it held after the first innings and the 176-run advantage it had built by the end of the second day.

Strauss's 11th test century, his first in 16 tests, was a feat of patience and application. He set himself as the anchor of the innings and provided the stability that allowed Bell and later Paul Collingwood (22) and Tim Ambrose (28) to attack the bowlers and more rapidly build England's lead.

Strauss' magnificent innings, which occupied more than 7 1/2 hours by stumps, achieved the twin purposes of cementing his place in the England side and driving home England's massive advantage in a match which will decide the three-test series.

Strauss played a flowing cover drive for four off Chris Martin, his 16th boundary, to reach his century after five hours and nine minutes at the crease. He had resumed his innings at 42 not out today and went on to his century from 226 balls, as the lynchpin of the England innings.

Strauss' solidity allowed Bell to play more adventurously as they built a partnership which added 135 runs between lunch and tea, wearing down the New Zealand bowlers.

Strauss was 62 when Bell came to the wicket on the dismissal of Kevin Pietersen for 34 and added the 38 runs needed for his hundred in the same time that Bell rushed to 82. Bell's own hundred, his seventh in tests and first of the series, came in a comparatively rapid 153 minutes - less than half the time of Strauss - and from 50 balls.

He played with skill and elegance, driving superbly off both feet, enjoying the security offered by a pitch which provided good pace and predictable bounce.

Bell moved to 110 when he made the first error of his innings, mistiming a slower ball from Vettori and pushing a simple catch to Mathew Sinclair at wide mid-off. His innings had placed England in an invulnerable position, one enhanced by Collingwood and Ambrose, and given expression to his own considerable talent.

New Zealand's bowlers toiled throughout the day in Strauss's shadow. He carried his bat for all of the third day, adding 131 runs to his overnight total and setting England for a declaration early tomorrow.

New Zealand never bowled badly. Fast bowlers Chris Martin and Tim Southee bowled with consistent accuracy and achieved some swing with the second new ball but they were unable to force even a momentary break in Strauss's concentration.

Daniel Vettori picked up a heavy bowling load on an easing pitch and had three for 135.

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