Strauss played a near faultless innings to put his team in command

A magnificent ninth Test century from captain Andrew Strauss inspired England to 258-7 at stumps on day four of the first Test, 341 ahead of Pakistan.

Strauss was caught at slip for 128 with two overs of the day remaining, as Danish Kaneria claimed two wickets in an over to finish with 3-73.

Kevin Pietersen (41) added 70 with the captain and Ian Bell made a gritty 28.

Earlier Mohammad Yousuf completed his fourth double century and was last out for 203 as Pakistan made 445.

Interview: Andrew Strauss

Strauss played virtually no false strokes, and was on 112 when he gave his first chance, a thick edge that flashed past Imran Farhat at slip before he could raise his hand to the ball.

The skipper was particularly productive with the cut shot, plus some neat leg glances and became the third England captain to score a century in his first match at the helm.

The wicket's still very flat, we have to take that into consideration Andrew Strauss Day four reaction

His only major mistake came on 99 when he needlessly tried for a quick single and after some hesitation Bell was defeated by a direct throw from a surprisingly nimble Inzamam at mid-wicket.

The dismissal was confirmed by the third umpire despite keeper Kamran Akmal breaking the stumps with his gloves before the ball arrived.

It ended an important fifth-wicket partnership after two wickets had fallen in 10 balls before tea as Kaneria and Shahid Afridi briefly began to look unplayable.

On another gloriously warm and clear day at the home of cricket, Pakistan resumed 119 behind at 409-7.

Afridi declared his intentions, unsurprisingly, with a wild swipe to his second delivery from Harmison that flew off the top edge over wicket-keeper Geraint Jones for four.

Harmison deserved to oust Yousuf after a wholehearted early spell

Steve Harmison found some pace and bounce in an impressive spell from the Nursery End and rapped Afridi painfully on the glove.

Afridi holed out to mid-off having made 17 in 20 balls and Matthew Hoggard added Umar Gul to his collection in the same over with a regulation edge.

Yousuf reached his double century, only the second Pakistan batsman to do so in a Test at Lord's, with another edge through a vacant slip cordon before Harmison deservedly ended his 330-ball vigil and finished with 4-94.

Beginning their second innings 83 ahead an hour into the penultimate day, England were content to play in normal fashion but Marcus Trescothick will not want to see a replay of the flat-footed poke that led to his downfall for 18, via an inside edge into his stumps.

He had been been given a lifeline on 12 when Akmal became the latest to dive in front of skipper Inzamam's distinctive frame at first slip.

Even when Alastair Cook injudiciously pulled to mid-on there was little animation from the Pakistan fielders.

Pietersen took 14 balls to get off the mark but played his usual array of remarkable shots, one leading edge racing to the cover fence as if out of the middle of the bat.

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When Kaneria tried around the wicket, he adjusted his intended stroke to drive straight past the bowler.

But on 41 he came charging down the wicket to a quicker one from Shahid Afridi that beat the bat and allowed Akmal the chance of a neat stumping.

When Paul Collingwood spooned a leading edge to mid-off Pakistan were scenting victory with England 229 ahead at 146-4.

Bell, likely to make way for Andrew Flintoff in the next Test despite his first innings century, looked all at sea in the early stages against Kaneria in a sustained period of sharp turn and clever variation, but overcame it to provide an invaluable foil for Strauss.