At the end of the first over of the day from Javagal Srinath, the Kiwis had lost two wickets and there were no runs on the board.

But half-centuries from Matthew Horne, Roger Twose and Craig McMillan proved the ideal riposte as India's early dominance evaporated.

Javagal Srinath yells a confident appeal

New Zealand, needing only a draw to win the series, recovered to 283-5 at stumps on the first day with Adam Parore and night watchman Paul Wiseman at the crease.

Opener Horne began the recovery with 63 and McMillan continued from where he left off in the second Test, when he made a match-winning unbeaten 89, with a forceful 92 off just 102 balls.

Twose, called up to replace an injured Nathan Astle, hit a career-reviving 87 in six hours and 25 minutes.

Both McMillan and Twose were unlucky to miss out on centuries, as Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad struck late in the day to give India some hope.

New Zealand first innings:
M Bell c Mongia b Srinath 0
M Horne b Srinath 63
S Fleming c Dravid b Srinath 0
R Twose c Mongia b Prasad 87
C McMillan c Prasad b Kumble 92
A Parore not out 9
P Wiseman not out 0

Extras: (5b, 12lb, 1w, 14nb) 32
Total (for 5 wickets, 90 overs) 283

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-95, 4-255, 5-278

To bat: C Cairns, D Nash, D Vettori, S Doull