Kevin Pietersen broke out of his recent form slump to rescue England and guide them to 240 for seven at close on the first day of the third Test against New Zealand on Saturday.

Pietersen, who had not made a Test score above 50 since August, was dismissed for 129 and shared in good partnerships with Paul Collingwood (30) and Stuart Broad (42 not out).

New Zealand debutant pace bowler Tim Southee had made a dream start, taking two wickets in his first spell as England slumped to 58 for four at lunch and 150 for six at tea.

Southee then returned after New Zealand took the second new ball and dismissed the dangerous Pietersen, who shared a 89-run partnership with Collingwood and 61-run stand with Broad.

South African-born Pietersen, who had appeared to be lacking in confidence throughout the series, stroked 12 fours and one six on to the roof of the main stand at McLean Park before he was caught by Jamie How at gully. It was his 11th Test century.

Broad's stoic defence against the spin of Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel was a valuable asset during his partnership with Pietersen.

The 19-year-old Southee captured two early wickets in the first session. Southee, replacing the injured Kyle Mills, trapped Michael Vaughan leg-before for two with his 11th ball in Test cricket and had Andrew Strauss well caught in the gully by How for a duck. New-ball partner Chris Martin bowled Alastair Cook for two from an inside edge to reduce England to four for three in the seventh over after winning the toss on the batter-friendly pitch.

SCORE BOARD

ENGLAND (I Innings)
Cook b Martin 2
Vaughan lbw Southee 2
Strauss c How b Southee 0
Pietersen c How b Southee 129
Bell c & b Elliott 9
Collingwood c Elliott b Patel 30
Ambrose c Taylor b Patel 11
Broad (batting) 42
Sidebottom (batting) 3
Extras (LB-8, NB-1, W-3) 12
Total (7 wkts, 92 overs) 240
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-36, 5-125, 6-147, 7-208.
Bowling: Martin 24-5-71-1, Southee 21-8-46-3, Elliott 10-2-27-1, Vettori 19-6-51-0, Patel 18-3-37-2.