India batted cautiously to take control of the first cricket Test against New Zealand, their top-order laying the foundation for a substantial first innings lead.
The visitors rode on notable contributions from Gautam Gambhir (72), Rahul Dravid (66) and Sachin Tendulkar (70 not out) to put up 278 for 4 by the end of the second day's play at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Thursday.
Keeping Tendulkar company at stumps was Yuvraj Singh, on 8.
India trail the Kiwis by a run.
It was a steady and watchful approach by the Indian batsmen, who were quite content in curbing their natural stroke-play.
Tendulkar's 135-ball innings, embellished with 11 fours, was flawless, except for a mistimed pull shot off New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori that could have cut short his stride on his individual score of 13. Daniel Flynn could not hold on to the tough chance. He ran backwards from short mid-wicket only to see the ball touch his finger tips before landing on the ground.
Play began 15 minutes late, as overnight rain rendered the outfield wet. Resuming at 29 without loss, India suffered an early setback when Sehwag fell victim to an injudicious second run. Gambhir played Kyle Mills to cover and called a reluctant Sehwag for a second run, even as James Franklin swooped down on the ball. Franklin's direct hit caught Sehwag desperately outside the safety of the crease at the non-strikers end.
Sehwag could add only two runs to his overnight 22, which was embellished with five boundaries.
Gambhir, who adventurously walked down the aisle to hit the bowlers on the up, and Dravid batted with aplomb to keep the Kiwis, excited over Sehwag's early demise, at bay.
Gambhir was the more productive of two, driving, cutting, pulling and tucking the ball with finesse, while Dravid was confidence-personified, playing a couple of attractive cuts off Mills and O'Brien, who erred in length while searching for extra pace from the drying deck.
At one stage, India were cruising along at the 142 for 1, with Gambhir and Dravid raising 105 runs for the second wicket, a position from where they could have possibly taken control of the game. But a persistent Chris Martin produced the breakthrough.
The right arm fast-medium bowler was rewarded for his wicket-to-wicket line when Gambhir, who notched his 10th half century in his 23rd Test, nibbled at a delivery that left late off the seam, offering Brendon McCullum a regulation catch.
Dravid displayed supreme form before Iain O'Brien found the gate between bat and pad to hit the top of off-stump. But, by then, the former India captain had already registered his 54th half-century.
Tendulkar and VVS Laxman (30) then batted confidently and added 61 for the fourth wicket before Martin broke the partnership with the second new ball, when Taylor took a good catch to dismiss the latter.
Tendulkar exorcised his initial uncertainties with perseverance and executed some glorious cuts and drives, a crunchy straight drive off Martin indicating that the little genius was back in his element.
Martin, who was the pick of the Kiwi fast bowlers with figures of 2 for 53, vindicated his captain's faith in him as he bowled sharp and accurate spells to straitjacket the Indian batsmen.
