Michael Vaughan re-wrote the Lord's history books with a record-equalling hundred against New Zealand in the first npower Test as England ended the first innings 42 runs ahead on 319.

In registering his sixth three-figure score in Lord's Tests, England captain Vaughan joined Graham Gooch as the most productive centurion at the traditional home of cricket.

His 18th career Test ton came at a sedate pace, off 204 balls, as the hosts ground out a lead over the tourists on the fourth day of a weather-ravaged match.

New Zealand replied by reaching 40 without loss at the close, to trail England by just two runs with all wickets remaining and just one day to go.

The century halted a poor start to the season for Vaughan, who came into this series on the back of 135 runs in seven innings for Yorkshire.

He survived a couple of hairy moments - the most notable a Chris Martin appeal for leg before wicket which went in his favour on 30 - to help England to 313 for seven in the final session of the day.

Having moved to within a boundary of the feat, Vaughan reached three figures at the first time of asking by hauling left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori through the leg-side for his 11th four.

Despite the good batting conditions on the fourth day, England lost regular wickets, the biggest cluster being six for 87 runs either side of lunch.

England openers Cook and Strauss brought up their first-ever hundred opening stand early on the fourth morning.

But the Black Caps attack, who bemoaned the lack of swing with the Duke's ball in the 30.2 overs possible between Friday afternoon and yesterday lunchtime, gained an initial breakthrough after three quarters of an hour today.

Umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Bucknor agreed to a change of ball after 32 overs, when England were 93 without loss, due to the initial offering becoming misshapen.

And Martin was celebrating a success in the eighth over with the replacement as, having been struck for two boundaries earlier in the over, he found the outside edge of Cook's bat.