Former England batsman Mike Atherton has praised Alastair Cook for his century against New Zealand yesterday.

The opening batsman scored 153 not out to guide the hosts to a lead of 295 ahead of the final day of the first Test at Lord's.

England resumed the day on 74-2 but finished on 429-6, and will hope to push for victory on day five.

Atherton told Sky Sports News: "It was a brilliant Cook hundred – one of the best of his career, I think, when you put together the nature of the attack and the match situation and conditions.

"These were real tough runs that he scored. At the start of the day England's position was very precarious; they lost [Ian] Bell to the third ball and they were still 70 behind, with Tim Southee and Trent Boult swinging it around corners.

"England needed this innings. I think he'll put this in the top five or six centuries he's scored for England, which says a lot. He's been the rock around everything that has been built today."

The century is Cook's fourth at Lord's.