Captain Brendon McCullum (169 batting) and B.J. Watling (90) continued to thwart India by taking New Zealand to 347 for five at lunch on day four, opening a 101-run lead in the second and final Test at the Basin Reserve here Monday.
A rare Test win overseas beckoned India when stumps were called Sunday. However, the NZ duo put together an unbeaten 253-run partnership for the sixth wicket to complete the hosts' comeback.
McCullum and Watling were hardly troubled by a tiring Indian attack, who have been bowling at the same pair for one whole day now.
McCullum, who was dropped twice on day three, offered half a chance to Shikhar Dhawan at second slip, but other than that, has been an exceptional.
Watling too has given his skipper able company, barely giving Indian bowlers a sniff.
India are still in the driver's seat but need to break this partnership quickly before the hosts reach a safe position from which they can start a counter-attack.
For New Zealand the idea would be to do more of the the same and extend their lead further.
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