Taylor leads Kiwi fightback

Captain Ross Taylor led from the front as his attacking century helped New Zealand reach stumps well-placed on 328-6 on day one of the second Test against India.

The Black Caps skipper blazed 113 from 127 balls to boost his side's hopes of squaring the two-Test series following a crushing innings defeat in the series-opener at Hyderabad.

Taylor reached his seventh Test century from 99 balls before he eventually became spinner Pragyan Ojha's fourth victim of the day early in the final session.

Opener Martin Guptill (53) and wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk (63 not out) also registered half-centuries for the tourists, who will be hopeful of building on their fine start when play resumes on day two.

India's spinners had still accounted for five of the Kiwi batsmen to fall - after claiming 18 of the 20 wickets in Hyderabad - but Taylor's strong-arm tactics blunted their effectiveness.

During the afternoon session Taylor and Daniel Flynn, who combined in a 107-run stand for the fourth wicket, kept the scoreboard ticking at seven runs an over after New Zealand had been in some trouble at 89-3.

Aggression

Zaheer Khan trapped Brendan McCullum lbw before he had scored in the second over before Ojha, who opened the bowling, claimed his first two scalps.

Kane Williamson was adjudged lbw pressing forward before Guptill, who had also sought to attack in his 53, paid for his aggression when he picked out Gautam Gambhir at mid-wicket.

With his side in some trouble, Taylor took flight after lunch slapping Ojha for four boundaries in his second over after the break.

Flynn had played more stoically in their stand before he was out sweeping at Ravichandran Ashwin for 33 midway through the middle session.

James Franklin was the only other man to fall before tea, hitting an Ojha full-toss to Suresh Raina, but again Taylor took charge with wicketkeeper Van Wyk matching his aggression.

Taylor survived a scare when he had to dive to make his ground after a mix-up with Van Wyk before cutting Ojha for four to bring up his 99-ball century.

Ojha got a measure of revenge after tea, though, when he finally trapped Taylor lbw attempting to sweep but Van Wyk, who had hit nine fours in his unbeaten 63, and Doug Bracewell (30 not out) ensured their skipper's good work was not wasted in an unbroken 82-run stand before the light faded.