Cricket: Black Caps recover after double blow

Live Scoring: Black Caps v India first test

New Zealand's batsmen were in a cautious mood as they set about India's healthy total in the first cricket test series today.

Two early setbacks ensured the tourists were circumspect after India's first innings closed at 487 on the stroke of tea at Sardar Patel Stadium.

In the two hours to stumps, the tourists responded with 69 for two, with Brendon McCullum to resume tomorrow on 38 alongside vice-captain Ross Taylor on 18.

This pair duly eschewed an extravagance as they worked hard to deny the Indians any more breakthroughs.

The early removal of opener Tim McIntosh for a 10-ball duck and BJ Watling for six forced a conservative approach on a surface now receptive to slow turn.

That was enough to undo Watling, who lost his off bail to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha when he leant forward to a ball which pitched on middle and gently spun away.

While that was very much a technical issue for Watling, who left the ground with his team at 26 for two, the earlier dismissal of McIntosh was a touch unlucky.

The tall left-hander did the right thing when swaying back to let go a shorter ball from fast bowler Zaheer Khan but unfortunately for him it bounced much lower than he expected and brushed his gloves en route to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.

Earlier, the New Zealanders cut through the Indian middle order after the home side had resumed this morning at a powerful 329 for three.

Offspinner Jeetan Patel sparked a collapse either side of lunch when he dismissed both Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman for 40 as the Indians momentarily lost their way.

Both Tendulkar and Laxman looked set for long innings before Patel delivered a double blow, firstly inducing a return catch from Tendulkar with the 37-year-old just 10 runs short of becoming the first player to compile 10 successive test scores of 50 or better.

Laxman went in the final over before lunch, the ball beating the bat and striking the back pad for a leg before wicket decision.

Suresh Raina, Dhoni and Zaheer Khan all came and went cheaply as India lost five wickets for 29 runs to be 412 for eight but the New Zealanders could not deliver the knockout blow.

Instead, Harbhajan Singh smacked a career best 69 off 97 balls, including five fours and three sixes, before becoming the fourth and last victim of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Vettori shouldered a marathon workload of 54.5 overs and was well worth his four for 118, while Patel, despite taking valuable wickets, was too expensive in returning three for 135 off 29 overs.

- NZPA

Live Scoring: Black Caps v India First Test