Sachin Tendulkar hammered 72 off just 27 balls but that did not prove enough for an equally belligerent New Zealand side as the Indians lost their tour-opening Super Max international match by 21 runs in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Making their debut in the unique format of the game for the first time, the Indians did well to take the lead in the 10-over per innings match, played under lights, but lost way in the second essay.

India rested captain Sourav Ganguly and his deputy Rahul Dravid from the game but Tendulkar turned up the heat on the hosts by slamming a record 72 and picking up five wickets to be adjudged man-of-the-match.

Tendulkar, returning to international cricket after missing the one-day series against the West Indies back home last month due to a hamstring niggle, thrashed his runs off only 27 balls with 10 fours, two eights and a twelve. He also claimed the home captain Chris Cairns in both innings, but it was not enough for the visitors.

New Zealand batted first on winning the toss and secured 123 for five on the board from their 10 overs but trailed the visitors by 10 runs in the first innings as Tendulkar showed blistering form with the bat.

New Zealand seemed down and out when on 70 for five in the second innings with just two overs remaining to recover lost ground. But part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag was hammered for 31 runs in his only over to turn the tide in favour of the hosts.

10,000 people were in the stands to have their first look at the famed Indian batting line-up and they were not disappointed.

New Zealand's first innings was largely a handiwork of two experienced batters, opener Nathan Astle (42 off 23 balls) and Craig McMillan (34 off 18), but Tinu Yohannan was also extremely impressive in mixing up his deliveries and finished with one for ten in his two overs.

The Indians lost opener Virender Sehwag early but Tendulkar, ever since he swatted his first ball from Shane Bond past point, showed himself in extremely competitive mood.

Tendulkar looked distraught whenever a bad throw was made and was keen enough to run to the wicketkeeper's end to collect wide throws showing his hunger for big-time cricket which could only be good news for India in the weeks ahead.

New Zealand were largely lagging in the second innings before Sehwag's over opened the floodgates for them. Opener Brendon McCallum made the most of it to produce an innings of 67 from just 30 balls that turned the match on its head.

McCallum, fighting for the wicketkeeper-batsman's slot with Chris Nevin, did his cause no harm after India struck regular blows at the start of their second innings.

Sanjay Bangar took a stunning catch at mid-off to help dismiss opener Nathan Astle off Ajit Agarkar; McMillan, frustrated by Zaheer Khan's nagging accuracy, Chris Cairns (7) and Scott Styris (6) were also dismissed early.

In the second innings, the Indians lost Tendulkar early after he was caught on the on-side off Jacob Oram for five. The Indians innings disintegrated rapidly thereafter though there were a couple of scorching blows from Sehwag, who was out for 23.

The visitors kept losing wickets and it didn't help their cause that makeshift captain V V S Laxman came down to bat at number seven.