Strauss drives England on

Andrew Strauss hit a half-century to help England reach an impressive lead in the deciding Test against New Zealand.

England were 167 for three, an overall lead of 252, at lunch on the third day of the third test on Sunday.

Strauss reached his first fifty in eight Test innings and was unbeaten on 71 at the lunch break.

The Middlesex left-hander had scored only 97 runs in five innings previously in the series.

Kevin Pietersen's useful innings of 34 was ended by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Strauss and Ian Bell, who is also under pressure to make a big contribution to the innings, took the tourists to lunch without further loss.

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