Kiwis put up brave show in Hamilton

Bad light forced the teams out of the park with India just one run shy of New Zealand's first innings total at Hamilton.

India were aided by half centuries by Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulka.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 70 with Yuvraj Singh eight not out when bad light stopped play as India took command of the Test in response to the hosts' 279 yesterday.

The Black Caps did enjoy some early success when a superb direct hit by James Franklin resulted in the run out of Virender Sehwag in the third over of the day after India resumed on 29 without loss having survived seven overs last night.

Sehwag had faced just three deliveries when he was called for a risky second run after partner Gambhir had pushed a Kyle Mills delivery wide of gully, but he was well short of his ground and departed after adding just two to his overnight 22.

Top Performer: Gautam Gambhir

It could have been so much better had Mills not bowled a no ball with his first delivery of the day when he had Gambhir plumb leg before wicket when on six.

But even after removing Sehwag, the hosts were unable to make any further inroads into the India batting line-up in the first session as Gambhir brought up his 10th half century in 97 balls and he and Dravid helped the tourists to 108 for one at lunch.

India continued to accumulate runs after the interval but their 105-run second wicket partnership came to an end when Gambhir (72) edged Chris Martin to Brendon McCullum to leave India 142 for two.

Dravid then reached his 54th Test fifty with his 10th four and he added 16 more before being bowled by Iain O'Brien, who squeezed a delivery between bat and pad to uproot the off stump and leave India 177 for three.

Images from day two

Tendulkar and VVS Laxman made it through to tea with the visitors at 197 for three but Tendulkar had a lucky escape on 13 shortly before the break when Daniel Flynn was unable to take a catch chasing back from midwicket after a mis-timed shot from the right-hander.

Laxman also had a let off after tea while on 15 when O'Brien failed to hold on to a difficult chance on the boundary.

But in the first over with the second new ball, the 34-year-old right-hander edged a Martin delivery to Ross Taylor in the slips to depart for 30 having taken India to 238.

It was the final wicket to fall in the day as Tendulkar went on to claim his 52nd Test half-century with a nice cover drive off Martin.

The Hamilton numbers 

It was tough day for New Zealand's bowlers and in particular Mills, who finished with figures of none for 70 off 15 overs.

Martin enjoyed the most success, bowling seven maidens and taking two wickets for 53 from 20 overs, while O'Brien chipped in with one for 56.

Jesse Ryder, who hit a maiden Test century yesterday, bowled some tight spells with five maidens in his seven overs which cost just 10 runs.