The Kiwis resumed the day on 45 without loss after India had taken a 50-run lead, and the signs were ominous when they were reduced to 85 for four.

Fifties from Craig McMillan, Adam Parore and Chris Cairns helped them to 323 for six at stumps on the fourth day.

Dion Nash is just four short of a fourth New Zealand half century in this innings as the Indians seek their first overseas win in three years.

He and Cairns are unbeaten after a 98-run stand after coming together at 225 for six.

Cairns, who fashioned New Zealand's four-wicket second test win in Wellington with 61 runs, dominated the seventh wicket stand with an unbeaten 52 including a six and eight boundaries.

Rescue effort

McMillan and Parore had rescued the innings with 140 runs in an almost run-a-minute effort following the Kiwis collapse to effectively 35 for four.

It was New Zealand's highest fifth-wicket partnership against India in Tests.

McMillan who missed out on a century with 92 in the first innings, fell short again with 84 while Parore was out for exactly 50.

India's bowling and fielding was poor and it was left to debutant Robin Singh Jnr to dismiss McMillan while Anil Kumble took Parore's wicket.

The crucial blows of the morning came in the form of part-time leg spinner Sachin Tendulkar, who won lbw appeals against first innings hero Roger Twose and Bell.

Tendulkar was the most successful bowler for the Indians with 2-30.

Scorecard:

New Zealand second innings:

M Bell lbw b Tendulkar 25
M Horne c Mongia b Srinath 26
S Fleming b Prasad 18
R Twose 1bw b Tendulkar 4
C McMillan c Mongia b Robin Singh jr 84
A Parore c Robin Singh jr b Kumble 50
C Cairns not out 52
D Nash not out 46
Extras 18

Total (for six wickets, 106 overs) 323

Fall of wickets: 1-46 2-69 3-76 4-85 5-225 6-225

Bowling: Prasad 27-8-55-1, Robin Singh jr 15-2-77-1, Srinath 20-6-62-1, Kumble 34-10-82-1, Tendulkar 7-0-30-2, Ganguly 3-1-3-0

India first Innings:

N Sidhu c Parore b Cairns 1
A Jadeja c Nash b Doull 12
R Dravid c McMillan b Cairns 190
S Tendulkar lbw b Nash 67
S Ganguly c Fleming b Doull 11
M Azharuddin c Fleming b Cairns 4
N.R. Mongia c Horne b Nash 7 A Kumble c Parore b Doull 0 J Srinath c Twose b Wiseman 76
B Prasad not out 30
R Singh Jr c Fleming b Cairns 0
Extras 18
Total 416

Fall of wickets: 17, 17, 126, 164, 195, 204, 211, 355, 416

To bat: A Kumble, J Srinath, V Prasad, R Singh Jr

Bowling: S Doull 15-6-29-2, C Cairns 10-3-54-2, D Nash 16-6-35-1, D Vettori 13-2-63-0, C McMillan 2-0-13-0

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 c sub (V.V.K.Laxman) b Prasad 21
P Wiseman c Ganguly b Singh 13
C Cairns b Singh 2
D Nash not out 18
D Vettori b Srinath 24
S Doull c Kumble b Srinath 6
Extras 40
Total (121.2 overs) 366

Fall of wickets: 0, 0, 95, 255, 278, 311, 314, 315, 356, 366

Bowling: J Srinath 32.2-10-95-5, V Prasad 33-10-61-2, A Kumble 27-07-64-1, R Singh Jr 21-5-74-2, S Ganguly 5-3-25-0, S Tendulkar 3-0-23-0