Sachin Tendulkar produced a masterly 160 as India tightened the noose around New Zealand by taking a huge 241-run first innings lead and snapping up three early Kiwi wickets in the first Test in Hamilton on Friday.
Tendulkar not only notched his 42nd Test century but anchored the innings brilliantly to steer India to a commanding first innings total of 520.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (47) and Zaheer Khan (51 not out) chipped in with useful contributions as the visitors took advantage of a good batting track at Seddon Park.
At close on Day 3 of the Test, the Kiwis were struggling at 75 for three, still 166 runs behind, night-watchman Kyle Mills falling leg before to the last ball of the day bowled by Munaf Patel.
With two full days left, the Blackcaps will have to bat out of their skins to prevent India from taking a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
It was Tendulkar's third hundred in four Tests since the 109 against Australia at Nagpur last November, putting him clearly ahead of Ricky Ponting's 37 hundreds (129 Tests).
New Zealand got off to a poor start in the second essay, losing Tim McIntosh (0) to the third ball of the innings, before Martin Guptill played some delightful strokes through the off-side for an enterprising 48.
McIntosh was caught by Tendulkar, who injured the index finger of his left hand in the process while taking a low slip catch, off the bowling of Zaheer.
Guptill and Daniel Flynn (batting 24) put the brakes on India, posting 68 runs for the second wicket, but Harbhajan Singh broke the partnership, sending back Guptill, who played an uppish drive and Virender Sehwag at mid-off pounced on the easy chance.
Earlier, Tendulkar displayed supreme form as he began his symphony at the crease with an exquisite cover drive off Chris Martin and followed it up with a punch off the backfoot through cover.
It was Tendulkar, overnight 70, of yore as boundaries oozed out of his willow. He turned the heat on Iain O'Brien and Jesse Ryder, hitting on the up through the off, back cutting and flicking with finesse.
The Kiwis merely watched in awe as Tendulkar moved into top gear, working the ball delightfully off the square.
Having recorded his 19th score over 150, he eventually fell to a short ball from a bumper-happy Iain O'Brien, Ross Taylor pouching the lobbed cherry at first slip.
Fast bowler Zaheer then took India past 500-run mark with his 46-ball cameo. He cashed on a dropped chance to notch up his third Test fifty, which was studded with eight fours. He and last-man out Munaf Patel (9) put up 28 runs for the 10th wicket.
Earlier in the day, India lost Yuvraj Singh in dramatic fashion. Venturing to shoulder arms to a break-back from Martin, the left-hander sheepishly had his off-peg rattled. He made 22 before starting his walk back to the hut.
