| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Ahmedabad: New Zealand were 69 for two in their first innings at the end of the second day's play of the first cricket Test against India here Friday.
The Black Caps trailed the hosts by 418 runs, with Brendon McCullum batting at 38 and Ross Taylor 18 when the stumps were drawn.
Harbhajan slammed three sixes and five fours in his 97-ball knock to steer India's first innings to 487 after the hosts had been reduced to 412-8 on a deteriorating wicket at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
At stumps, New Zealand were 69-2, trailing the Indians by 418 runs with eight wickets in hand. Brendon McCullum (38) and Ross Taylor (18) were the not out batsmen.
Paceman Zaheer Khan gave India an early breakthrough when he had opener Tim McIntosh (0) caught behind in the third over while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha pegged back the off-stump of BJ Watling to reduce the Kiwis to 27-2.
But McCullum, opening the innings for the first time in Tests, held on steadily to one end, hitting seven fours during his two-hour stay at the wicket.
Earlier, Harbhajan Singh scored a career-best 69 before India were bowled out for 487 just before tea .
The tailender smashed three sixes and five fours in his 97-ball knock to frustrate the New Zealand attack, which had reduced India to 412-8 shortly into the second session at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori finished with the best figures of 4-118, sending back captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (10), Zaheer Khan (one) and Harbhajan after accounting for the wicket of Virender Sehwag (173) on Thursday.
Dhoni was running a fever and underwent tests for malaria, according to the local media manager.
Harbhajan smashed Vettori for a four and six and shared 66 runs for the ninth wicket with Pragyan Ojha (11), who became the third victim of off-spinner Jeetan Patel.
New Zealand fought back in the last 25 minutes before lunch to pick three quick Indian wickets, including that of Sachin Tendulkar for 40.
Tendulkar offered a simple return catch to Patel, disappointing a sizeable crowd that was expecting to celebrate his 50th Test ton on Diwali, the festival of lights.
VVS Laxman (40) was trapped leg before by Patel after he had shared 66 runs for the fourth wicket with Tendulkar.
Debutant Kane Williamson picked up his first Test wicket when Suresh Raina (three) offered a sharp chance to Brendon McCullum at extra cover shortly before the lunch break.
The Indians were slow off the blocks after resuming at the overnight 329-3, putting on 63 runs in two hours of play in the first session.
Tendulkar, who scored the first of his six double centuries against New Zealand at the same venue in 1999, was uncharacteristically subdued during his nearly three-hour stay at the crease.
He hit five fours in his 133-ball knock.
New Zealand were set back by a groin injury to debutant paceman Hamish Bennett, who did not come out to bowl Friday.
Brief scores
India 487 (Sehwag 173, Dravid 104, Harbhajan 69, Vettori 4-118, Patel 3-135)
New Zealand 69 for 2
Status New Zealand trail by 418 runs
