Bangalore, Aug 31: Captain Ross Taylor launched a stunning counter-attack with a blistering 113 as New Zealand showed great fighting spirit to recover from early jolts in the second cricket Test here today.
Taylor notched up his seventh Test century to pull his team out of trouble and guide the Kiwis to a respectable 328 for six on the opening day before bad light stopped play at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
It was a vastly improved batting display by the Kiwis who were bundled out cheaply in both the innings in the massive defeat in the first Test in Hyderabad.
Taylor showed the way as he led from the front by being more aggressive against the spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha who could not extract much turn from the first day track.
Wicketkeeper batsman Kruger van Wyk (63) and Doug Bracewell (30) were at the crease at stumps on a day which saw a record score being put up by a visiting team on day one at this stadium.
Opener Martin Guptill (53) and Daniel Flynn (33) were the other notable contributors for the Kiwis who showed a greater application against the spinners after deciding to bat first.
The visitors were at a shaky 89 for three at one stage before Taylor and Flynn resurrected the innings with a 107-run fourth wicket partnership.
Taylor, who failed in both the innings in Hyderabad, unleashed a flurry of strokes as the runs came at a brisk pace right through the day. Taylor clobbered 16 boundaries and two sixes in his 127-ball knock.
Pragyan Ojha was the pick of the Indian bowlers on day one by taking four wickets for 90 runs while Zaheer Khan and Ashwin chipped in with a wicket each.
