Southee strikes early, India reach 63/2 at lunch

India lost a couple of early wickets after wrapping up New Zealand's first innings at 365 and reached 63 for two at lunch in a session dominated by the visitors on the second day of the second and final cricket Test here today.

Tim Southee gave New Zealand a rollicking start by getting rid of Indian opener Gautam Gambhir and first Test centurion Cheteshwar Pujara with the new ball at the Chinnaswamy stadium here.

At lunch, India were 63 for two with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, on 39 and 4 respectively, holding fort. Both of them arrested the early slide by countering New Zealand pacers who used the overcast conditions to perfection.

Sehwag, who survived a loud appeal for leg before off Southee early on, looked in devastating moods giving scant respect to the Kiwi pacers.

Giving momentum to the Indian innings after the hosts were in a spot of bother, Sehwag cut loose soon after Gambhir fell at the other end.

The aggressive right-hander made merry by flicking, driving and slashing hard at the deliveries bowled at him.

Tendulkar, who sweated it out at his defence during the nets before the start of the match, played cautiously on a wicket which helped the seamers.

Starting their first innings, the Indian openers had a torrid time out in the middle as Trent Boult and Southee, used overcast condition and moisture on the surface. Both swung the ball and put Gambhir and Sehwag in a spot of bother.

Gambhir, who was lucky to have survived after Brendon McCullum dropped him on one in the slips, fell for two off a Southee ball that curved in and clipped the bail on way to the keeper.