By Huw Beynon
In the first test at Hydrabad the Black Caps are chasing leather after India won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat pitch.
It was a toss Ross Taylor wanted to win, and the reasons were clear from the very first ball, when India started the scoring with a boundary.
Ticking along and one run short of their 50 partnership, Gautam Gambhir got a little too casual and was caught behind.
The other opener Virinder Sehwag was displaying the best of his repertoire, so when a chance came it had to be taken.
Taylor and Kruger van Wyk missed one opportunity, the ball running between the keeper and first slip. Luckily for them, another chance was just around the corner, and Martin Guptill made no mistake, leaving India on 77 for 2.
Cue pandemonium in the stands, and the entrance of ‘The Little Master’, Sachin Tendulkar.
Along with Cheteshwar Pujara (119*), Tendulkar steadied things at the crease and India were 92 for 2 at lunch.
For all the noise in the stands, it was the ball hitting the stumps that Tendulkar heard after the break - Trent Boult perhaps bowling his way into an IPL contract.
Virat Kohli got going immediately and Pujara notched up his second test half century as the hosts reached 182 for 3 at tea.
Back to action after the break and it seemed Doug Bracewell hadn't got enough fluid onboard during tea – he had cramp in both his legs and left the field.
As should have Kohli shortly after. Instead Kohli passed 50 before Guptill was once again on hand in the slips.
At the other end Pujara made no such mistake, moving on to his maiden test hundred.
Suresh Raina came and went, caught behind off Jeetan Patel, and at stumps India were at 307 for 5.
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