Second Test, Napier (day one, close):
New Zealand 351-4 v India
Match scorecard

Taylor's 151 came off 204 balls and featured 26 boundaries

A record fourth-wicket partnership between Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder put New Zealand in control on the first day of the second Test against India.

The pair came together with the hosts struggling at 23-3 and put on 271 runs as India's bowlers toiled in Napier.

Taylor (151) was dismissed after tea, but Ryder remains unbeaten on 137, accompanied by James Franklin (26 not out) as New Zealand finished on 351-4.

India are without captain Mahendra Dhoni, with Virender Sehwag deputising.

Dhoni sustained a back strain during the warm-up just before the start of play, forcing India to call up replacement wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik.

Daniel Vettori was joined by Sehwag at the toss and the New Zealand captain called correctly before electing to bat on a surface which had made headlines in the run-up to the Test.

Reports of a fungal infection on the pitch had been denied by groundsman Phil Stoyanoff, who produced a batsman-friendly pitch with enough encouragement for the fast bowlers in the opening overs.

And India seamers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan used the hard surface and new ball intelligently as they tore through the New Zealand top order.

The hosts had reached 21-0 before Sharma struck in the eighth over, having Tim McIntosh caught behind by Karthik for 12, although replays suggested the opener did not edge the ball.

606: DEBATE Fantastic recovery by the Kiwis - unless India really pull their fingers out and roll them for another 125 or so, it's kiss-this-match-goodbye time Hblove

And Zaheer struck with his final delivery of the next over when Jamie How, recalled in place of the injured Daniel Flynn, was bowled for one playing around a full delivery.

Martin Guptill soon followed when he gloved a Khan bouncer to gully, where captain Sehwag took a diving catch, to leave New Zealand perilously placed at 23-3.

But Ryder and Taylor settled the Blacks Caps' nerves, guiding their side to lunch without further issues before cutting lose after the interval.

Taylor was typically aggressive, bringing up his half century with his 11th boundary through cover, intelligently rotating the strike with his left-handed partner to disrupt the rhythm of the Indian bowlers.

The 25-year-old moved into the 90s with three successive boundaries off Yuvraj Singh and, although fortunate to survive a dropped Rahul Dravid catch at first slip, brought up his third Test century with an edged boundary through gully from 151 deliveries.

Ryder brought up his second successive century after tea when he guided Zaheer through backward point for his 14th boundary, becoming the first New Zealander to score back-to-back Test tons since Nathan Astle in 1996.

The pair then surpassed the record 231-run stand set by Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent against India in 2003.

But just after bringing up his 150, Taylor's attempted slog sweep of Harbhajan Singh was caught by a diving Yuvraj in the deep, ending an entertaining 204-ball innings.

New man Franklin was fortunate to remain unbeaten at stumps having been dropped on seven by Yuvraj at third slip off Zaheer as well as surviving good caught behind and lbw appeals.

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