McIntosh century puts Black Caps in commanding position

HYDERABAD // Tim McIntosh's patient century ensured New Zealand took the honours on the opening day of the second Test against India as they reached 258 for four by stumps.

McIntosh showed impressive powers of concentration to reach his second Test century in the final hour before the close, only to lose his wicket with just 10 balls remaining in the day's play. Zaheer Khan ended the 30-year-old opener's resolute, 254-ball stay with the new ball, when he played on to his stumps, and edge India slightly back into the contest.

The home side had been made to toil for much of the day, most significantly when McIntosh and Martin Guptill (85) put on 147 for the second wicket either side of the lunch break. And while India hit back late, the Black Caps would have been happy with their day's work with Jesse Ryder (22) and Gareth Hopkins (zero) to resume this morning.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Brendon McCullum fell early in the first Test match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

McCullum gave the new venue a fitting start, getting the first runs with a boundary in the second over off Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. But the paceman got his revenge in his next over, with McCullum prodding at a straight delivery to be caught behind by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni for four.

Sreesanth nearly doubled his tally in the eighth over when he found Guptill's outside edge but, just as the batsman was walking back to the pavilion, umpire Kumar Dharmasena deemed the delivery a no-ball.

Guptill was handed another lifeline when his attempted square cut off spinner Harbhajan Singh found the edge, but he was dropped by Dhoni. He was eventually out, caught leg-before by Ojha, which led to a more profitable final session for the hosts.

* Press Association