India follow on in second Test

Responding to the home side's massive first innings of 619 for nine declared, the tourists were dismissed for 305 despite defiant half-centuries by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Dravid shared partnerships of 87 with Sachin Tendulkar (49) and 81 with Laxman (76) but after he was removed by Jesse Ryder for 83 shortly before tea, and the last six Indian wickets fell for only 59 runs.

New Zealand enforced the follow on and Jeetan Patel enhanced the Blackcaps' cause by claiming the wicket of Virender Sehwag to leave India on 47 for one at stumps with Gautham Gambhir unbeaten on 14 and Dravid 11 not out, still needing 267 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

India had appeared in a reasonable position to avoid the follow on after Dravid shared long partnerships with Tendulkar and Laxman to take India from 78 for three to 246 for four.

But the hosts regained control when Dravid was removed by Ryder late in the second session after he attempted to square cut a short delivery but only succeeded in edging behind to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.

Yuvraj Singh then fell to Chris Martin four overs later for a duck when his intended cover drive was lofted into the hands of Tim McIntosh at second slip, leaving India reeling on 253 for six at tea.

It was the first of three wickets for Martin who had Dinesh Karthik taken at third slip by Ryder for six before claiming the crucial wicket of Laxman, who edged to McIntosh at second slip.

Iain O'Brien swept up the tail with Harbhajan Singh going for 18 after pulling to Martin at deep square leg and Zaheer Khan falling for eight on the next ball after Ryder took an excellent catch at gully.

The Blackcaps, who are looking to bounce back from a 10-wicket loss in last week's opening Test in Hamilton, were in a strong position on resumption after removing Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma late on Friday to leave India on 79 for three.