Shikhar Dhawan fell just short of his third Test century as India took a first innings lead over New Zealand with five wickets in hand at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.
At lunch on day two in Wellington, India were 201-5 in reply to New Zealand's 192 with Virat Kohli on 27 and Ajinkya Rahane on 22. Dhawan was out for 98.
After India resumed the day at 100-2, Dhawan and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma produced a defiant stand for the third wicket, adding a further 41 runs before Trent Boult made the breakthrough.
While Sharma and Tim Southee were having a very visible feud at one end, Boult was quietly toiling away at the other and was rewarded with an edge from Sharma on 26.
It was well caught by a diving BJ Watling to give the New Zealand wicketkeeper his 50th Test scalp with the gloves to go with 10 in the field.
Dhawan, backing up from a century in the first Test in Auckland, progressed comfortably into the 90s before his removal in an eventful Southee over.
He survived a runout possibility when he slipped over only for Brendon McCullum to trip and misfield. He then drove the next ball to the boundary to move to 98 before edging the following seamer to Watling.
For New Zealand, Trent Boult has taken 44-2 and Tim Southee 2-60.
All-rounder Jimmy Neesham, making his Test debut, claimed his maiden Test wicket when he bowled Rohit Sharma without scoring.
Source: AFP
