Day four photos England reaction

Geraint Jones celebrated his maiden Test ton as England charged relentlessly towards a series-clinching win against New Zealand at Headingley.

Jones' 100 helped England establish a first-innings lead of 117 as they were bowled out for 526 on day four.

New Zealand then lost four wickets in 20 balls to crumble to 102-5 at stumps.

Jones shared in a vital 118-run stand for the sixth wicket with Andrew Flintoff, who was caught six runs short of his century.

Jones struck 15 boundaries and a six en route to becoming the 10th England keeper to score a Test century, though he was dropped on 30 by counterpart Brendon McCullum.

New Zealand wil start the final day in a parlous state, with regular opener Michael Papps (fractured finger) yet to bat and Daniel Vettori sidelined after tearing a hamstring in the field.

England, 248-4 overnight, added 102 in the morning session for the loss of Graham Thorpe for 34.

The fifth wicket put on 99 in difficult conditions with both Flintoff and Thorpe taking blows to the body on an increasingly erratic pitch.

Flintoff's fine innings was let down by a soft dismissal

But New Zealand paid the price when overpitching, and Flintoff's ploy to counter the pitch's demons was to play his shots to the bad balls.

Flintoff traded mainly in boundaries, most notably off the errant Chris Martin, who was the unlikely architect of the breakthrough when angling a yorker across Thorpe and bowling him just before lunch.

The dismissal brought Jones to the crease and reunited him with Flintoff, with whom he shared a century stand at Lord's.

The partnership clicked again, with Jones capitalising on McCullum's drop to outscore the normally free-hitting Flintoff for the most part.

Flintoff, whose first four Test innings at Headingley were ducks, continued to punish any waywardness but played with a maturity rarely associated with his batting.

The manner of his dismissal was disappointing - surely looking for the six that would have given him a fourth Test ton, Flintoff swung hard at Scott Styris and holed out at mid-off.

He and Jones had nevertheless edged England into a 48-run lead when his departure reduced the hosts to 457-6.

Ashley Giles struck a quick 21 before falling prior to tea, after which Jones reached triple figures with a single, punching the air as he ran it.

Cairns could hit a 100 tomorrow and give New Zealand a lead of 120. Tuffey could then take six wickets and win the match! From Gio Have your say on TMS

The focus which had served him so well deserted him three balls later as he cut Chris Cairns to Fleming at point.

The last three wickets fell for no runs with Jones' dismissal, the same fate which befell New Zealand's last trio on Saturday.

New Zealand's second dig started promisingly enough, but on 39 Fleming fended Flintoff to short-leg.

The second wicket took the score along to 75, but then the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion.

Four wickets quicky perished for 16 as Matthew Hoggard ousted Mark Richardson and Nathan Astle, and Steve Harmison accounted for Brendon McCullum and nightwatchman Daryl Tuffey.

Jacob Oram, struggling with a side strain, and Styris hung around until the close, but a ramshackle New Zealand will surely plummet to a heavy defeat on the final day.

England: M E Trescothick, A J Strauss, M A Butcher M P Vaughan (Capt), G P Thorpe, A Flintoff, G O Jones, A F Giles, M J Hoggard, M J Saggers, S J Harmison.

New Zealand: M H W Papps, M H Richardson, S P Fleming (Capt) N J Astle, S B Styris, C S Martin, J D P Oram, C L Cairns B B McCullum, D L Vettori, D R Tuffey.

Umpires: S A Bucknor, S J A Taufel.