The Blackcaps have enjoyed arguably the perfect day's play on day two of the first test against India in Kanpur, led by the trio of Tim Southee, Tom Latham and Will Young.
After bowling India out for 345 in their first innings, thanks to Southee's 13th career five-wicket haul, the Blackcaps reached the close of play at 129/0 - with Latham (50 not out) and Young (75 not out) both walking off unbeaten in their reply.
New Zealand still trails by 216 runs in the first innings, but still has all 10 wickets in hand as they eye a possible first innings lead.
Taking the ball in the morning session as India resumed at 258/4, Southee gave the Blackcaps the perfect start in their hunt for wickets, even after struggling with a hip flexor injury on day one.
In the third over of the day, Southee had Ravindra Jadeja out to take his first wicket of the day, as India's overnight batsman dragged back onto his stumps for 50 - failing to add to his score from day one.
Despite losing his overnight partner, India's Shreyas Iyer batted on, and moved on to register a century on his test debut, facing 157 balls with 12 fours and two sixes.
But amid India's celebrations, Southee battled on in unfavourable conditions, removing Wriddiman Saha for two, caught behind by Tom Blundell, before also ending Iyer's debut knock for 105, spooning a catch to Young.
As part of a spell that saw him bowl 11 consecutive overs, Southee completed his five wicket haul before lunch, as Axar Patel was caught behind by Blundell for one. as the Kiwi spearhead raised the ball in test cricket for the 13th time.
Southee finished as the pick of the Kiwi bowlers with 5/69.
Ajaz Patel picked up the final two Indian wickets, bowling Ravichandran Ashwin for 38 out of a footmark, before ending India's innings for 345 when he trapped Ishant Sharma LBW for a duck.
But expected to face a trial by spin in their first innings, New Zealand's opening pair of Tom Latham and Will Young batted brightly, getting through to the tea break with their wickets intact at 72/0.
Young reached his half-century after the tea break, taking 88 balls with eight boundaries, before he and Latham notched a century opening stand, adding the longest opening partnership by a touring side in India since David Warner and Matt Renshaw for Australia back in 2017.
Passing 50 for just the second time in his so far short test career, Young finished the day with 12 boundaries to his name, showing incredible poise against India's spinners, highlighted by a charging cover drive off the bowling of Axar Patel that yielded four runs.
Latham was much more circumspect in his half-century, correctly reviewing and reversing three umpire's decisions that would have seen the end of his innings.
Latham was twice given out LBW despite inside edging the ball onto his own pad, before also overturning a caught behind decision off Ravichandran Ashwin late in the day, having brushed his pad with his bat.
The left-hander passed 50 for the 21st time in test cricket before the close of play, getting to his half-century in 157 balls with four boundaries.
But just as it had done on day one, bad light stopped play early, seeing Latham and Young walk off to a standing ovation from their teammates, having eaten away a sizeable chunk of India's lead.
However, conditions will only get more difficult for batting on throughout the rest of the test match, with the pitch continuing to deteriorate and trouble the New Zealand openers throughout the evening session.
New Zealand will resume on day three, with their first target being to score the 17 runs needed to move their first innings total to 146 and avoid the follow-on mark.
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