New Zealand 216-5 at stumps on day 2 of first Test

Kane Williamson (89) top-scored, while Ross Taylor (44) too chipped in with a useful contribution.

Wellington:New Zealand were 216 for five in their first innings at stumps in reply to India's total of 165 on the second day of the opening Test at Basin Reserve here on Saturday.

Star Indian seamer Ishant Sharma on Saturday picked a couple of wickets but New Zealand still held the upper hand, reaching 116 for 2 at tea after bundling India out for a paltry 165 on the second day of the first Test here on Saturday.

BJ Watling (14) and Colin de Grandhomme (4) were at the crease during the break as New Zealand took a 51-run lead.

India pacer Ishant Sharma (3/31) took three wickets, dismissing both the openers -- Tom Blundell (30) and Tom Latham (11) and milestone man Ross Taylor (44), while Mohammed Shami (1/61) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/60) snapped one each.

ICC's Tweet

New Zealand went into the final session with only 50 runs required to surpass India's modest first innings total.

Williamson looked good as he hit some delightful strokes square off the wicket. The square drive on the rise off Jasprit Bumrah (0/37 in 11 overs) followed by a cover drive showed his class.

Bumrah, in particular, was punished by Williamson, who also back-cut him for a boundary and Taylor then punished another half volley through the covers.

There were quite a few loose deliveries on offer from the Indian pacers and in between a few did beat the bat. With the 'Basin' baked in sunshine, batting became lot more easier and the Black Caps seized the initiative.

Shami (0/34 in 9 overs) and Bumrah didn't exactly look menacing during that second session, while Ravichandran Ashwin (0/26 in 9 overs), despite being hit for a six, showed a big heart in bowling attacking lines as he got the deliveries to drift.

Earlier, New Zealand's debutant Kyle Jamieson and veteran Tim Southee took four wickets apiece as Indian innings folded in 68.1 overs.

Indian innings.

Jamieson (4/49 in 16 overs) and Southee (4/49 in 20.1 overs) took four of the five wickets that fell on the second morning with India adding only 43 runs to their overnight score of 122 for 5.

Rishabh Pant (19) started with a six but then a horrible mix-up with senior partner Ajinkya Rahane (46) resulted in a run-out and the little chance of recovery was gone for good.

Ravichandran Ashwin got a beauty from Southee, pretty similar to what Prithvi Shaw got, while Rahane inside edged one while trying to leave it alone.

With India reduced to 132 for 7, Rahane knew that time was running out as he played a square drive off Trent Boult to get a boundary.

Southee got rid of Rahane soon when he tried to shoulder arm a delivery that made a late inward movement.

Mohammed Shami's entertaining 21 then enabled the visitors to cross the 150-run mark.