Brendon McCullum struck a well-paced century on Monday as New Zealand reached 237-4 at the close of play on the fourth day of the second test against India after conceding a 122-run first innings lead.
The test looks like providing an interesting final day as New Zealand is 115 runs ahead with six wickets in hand.
McCullum was batting on 124 and Kane Williamson had 12 as the Kiwis looked to prolong the second innings, just as Harbhajan Singh had done earlier in the day for India with a century that took its first innings to 472.
McCullum started aggressively and was particularly severe on the spinners, striking 11 fours and three sixes off 177 balls.
He built up a 125-run partnership for the first wicket with Tim McIntosh (49), the first three-figure opening stand for New Zealand in over six years.
McIntosh hit six fours and a six before he was caught at forward short leg off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
Left-hander McIntosh, who had struck 102 in the first innings after twice being out for nought in the first match at Ahmedabad, was comfortable against both pace and spin before being caught bat and pad.
Martin Guptill (18) lasted for 67 minutes but did not seem fluent despite having scored 85 in the first innings. He was out caught behind as he tried to slash a delivery from Ojha but only managed an edge.
Ross Taylor (7) fell 13 runs later as seam bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth produced a fine delivery that came in sharply and found the gap between bat and pad to dislodge the stumps.
Jesse Ryder (20) could not do much either and edged one to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off part-time spinner Suresh Raina as New Zealand slipped from 174-1 to 221-4.
Earlier, Harbhajan became the first number eight batsman to score centuries in successive tests, scoring 111 not out to lead India to its 122-run first innings.
India added 36 runs to its overnight 436-9 before Sreesanth (24) was trapped lbw by Daniel Vettori to end the innings at 472.
New Zealand had scored 350 in its first innings.
Associated Press
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