A match encapsulating the five-act drama of Test cricket at its best was poised until tea on the final day when England took control to win by a deceptively easy seven wickets.

England's second innings of 282 for three, representing only the third time a side chasing a total of over 200 has won a Test at Lord's, was anchored by opener Andrew Strauss who added 83 to his first innings 112.

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Seventeen more runs would have made Strauss the first England player to score two centuries on debut. Instead, he fell victim to a serious misjudgement by Nasser Hussain, who called for an impossible run after tapping the ball into the covers.

"We went for a run and there was a bit of indecision," Strauss told a news conference. "It's one of those things that happen all the time in cricket. I started running just as he stopped.

"I suppose it looked like I sacrificed myself but it was just one of those things. To dwell on it after such a victory would be wrong."

Hussain, England's former captain and most experienced player, responded with a defiant unbeaten 103 to see his side home. Under pressure to justify his place from sections of the British media, the 36-year-old also took two smart catches on Sunday followed by a marvellous runout.

QUIT THREAT

He told the BBC after Monday's innings that he was considering quitting Test cricket and would consult his father before deciding his future.

Hussain resigned the captaincy unexpectedly during last year's series against South Africa but has subsequently stated his ambition to win 100 caps. He is now four short of that goal.

Marcus Trescothick, deputising for the injured Michael Vaughan as England captain, said Hussain had responded in typical fashion.

"He's at his best when he's under pressure," Trescothick said.

England won their first series in the Caribbean for 36 years when they beat West Indies 3-0 this year. Monday's victory over a tough New Zealand side demonstrated the progress they have made under Hussain and Vaughan since losing to the 1999 Kiwi side and slumping to the bottom of the world rankings.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, whose side won their first Test at Lord's five years ago, paid tribute to the revitalised England team.

"I think it was a pretty good effort from England," he said. "We would have liked to get a few more runs and create a few more opportunities."

England's only problem would seem to be deciding who to leave out for the second Test starting at Headingley on June 3. New Zealand, whose attack lacked variety on Monday, need to get their fastest bowler Shane Bond back into the team after a year out of Test cricket with a back injury.