India close in on historic win

Resuming on 51 for one, already 233 runs ahead, India piled on the misery for the New Zealanders as they racked up 349 runs for the loss of five wickets at Wellington's Basin Reserve. That gave them a mammoth lead of 531 runs when bad light ended play early and with just two days remaining.

Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid added 170 runs for the second wicket which effectively took the game away from New Zealand as their bowlers, particularly Tim Southee, found it tough going.

It was the 76th time Dravid had been involved in a century stand - a record for any batsman.

But the Black Caps enjoyed a profitable spell immediately after lunch with Daniel Vettori snaring the wickets of Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, who made a 20-ball nine, as India went from 170 for one at lunch to 208 for three.

Dravid was dismissed on 60 after reaching his 57th Test half-century shortly before the interval. His 145-ball innings included 10 boundaries and was his fourth fifty of the series.

Gambhir and Laxman however, ploughed on to take India to 314 before both fell in quick succession once the second new ball had been taken.

Having reached 151 shortly before tea, Gambhir added a further 16 runs in the final session before he was trapped lbw by Iain O'Brien which brought to an end an impressive 257-ball innings that included 16 boundaries and two sixes.

O'Brien then struck again in his next over to dismiss Laxman (61), who had brought up his 39th half-century - and third in four innings - three overs previously.

That left India 319 for five, 501 runs ahead. Captain MS Dhoni (16 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (15 no) saw the visitors through to the close.