Auckland: India were pushed to the back foot after yet another familiar top-order batting collapse as hosts New Zealand took firm control of the the first cricket Test riding on skipper Brendon McCullum's brilliant double century here today.
McCullum's sparkling 224 guided New Zealand to a commanding 503 in their first innings despite a six-wicket haul by pacer Ishant Sharma.
India were struggling at 130 for four, when bad light halted second day's play with Rohit Sharma standing tall amidst ruins batting on 67 in company of Ajinkya Rahane (23 batting). India are 373 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total and still require another 174 runs to avoid follow-on.
India's top-order again performed miserably as they were reduced to 10 for three at one stage with Shikhar Dhawan (0), Cheteshwar Pujara (1) and Virat Kohli (4) back in the pavilion due to some inspired seam bowling by Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
Murali Vijay (26) did all the hardwork before Neil Wagner dismissed him with a beauty to reduce India to 51 for four.
Rohit-Rahane did some repair work with an unbroken 79-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Rohit especially looked in silken touch as he hit eight fours and a six off Kane Williamson in the 102 balls that he faced so far.
