The Middlesex left-hander's Test career appeared to have come to a shuddering halt when he was dropped for last year's tour to Sri Lanka after going 26 innings without a century.
But after he received a reprieve for the tour to New Zealand, Strauss has relished his new opportunity and hit a determined but vital 106 to help England secure a six-wicket victory in the second npower Test.
It was Strauss' second century in his last four innings and since he reverted back to opening - he batted at three in New Zealand - he is yet to score lower than 60.
Today's innings was perhaps his most crucial as he which provided the mainstay of the England innings as they attempted to eclipse the previous highest successful fourth-innings run chase of 231 for three recorded against West Indies in 2004.
Strauss was composed throughout as England battled through another day of strong winds and negotiated the guile of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to complete their triumph before tea.
On a pitch we showed considerably less demons than on the previous day when 16 wickets fell, England still had to negotiate some tricky periods before they could ease to their target.
After they resumed the fourth morning needing a further 218 runs to win on 76 for one, the experience of Strauss and Vaughan was vital in guiding England through the early stages.
Vaughan was the more adventurous of the pair during the early stages and was happy to play aggressively against Vettori despite his success from the Sir Brian Statham End just 24 hours previously, when he claimed his second successive five-wicket haul of the series.
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