Amid Motera's heat and dust, ageing warhorse Chris Martin opened up the first Test in a manner that was dramatic here on Sunday.
The 35-year-old paceman's incisive five for 25 meant the hunter became the hunted.
At the conclusion of an eventful fourth day, India was precariously placed at 82 for six in its second innings — the host has an overall lead of 110.
V.V.S. Laxman, a man for crisis, was unbeaten on a typically diligent 34 under pressure. India's hopes hinge on this smooth-stroker with steel in his bones.
Martin on fire
Earlier, debutant Kane Williamson's impressive century on debut (131) was largely instrumental in New Zealand reaching 459; India led by 28 in its first innings.
The scarred pitch has still not broken up but the character of the surface might change on the final day. The contest has already exploded to life.
Martin certainly got more out of the wicket. He bent his back to extract surprising lift as India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22), unable to cope with a rising delivery, played on.
Laxman and Dhoni added 50 vital runs for the sixth wicket after the home side was reeling at 15 for five in the 11th over. Martin's second spell ended the association.
His first burst of 9-6-15-4 was influential. The lanky paceman's run-up blended with a lovely high-arm action to present a flowing picture.
Interestingly, there is a pause in his leap that appears to give him a fraction of a second to pick the batsman's initial movement.
Martin was without pace partner Hamish Bennett, nursing a groin strain.
Canny left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori shared the new ball. He might have lost some pace but Martin made up for this shortcoming with precision and intensity; he moved the ball in the air and off the seam.
First, the out-of-form Gautam Gambhir succumbed in the corridor.
India suffered a body blow when Dravid punched Vettori to deep extra-cover where substitute Martin Guptill moved swiftly before releasing the ball to the bowler.
Setting out for a run, Virender Sehwag was stranded.
Dravid did not last long either. Martin set him up with an incoming ball and then consumed the No. 3 with a delivery that straightened outside the off-stump. India was three for two.
Clatter of wickets
The Kiwis built up stress with the accurate Vettori giving little away at the other end. Bowling is most effective in partnerships.
And the New Zealand fielding was sharp. The visitor continued to make inroads.
Sachin Tendulkar was done in by a lovely inswinger from Martin; the maestro played on after venturing into an ill-fated drive.
Martin used the crease and harnessed the angles. He switched his line capably to the left-handed Suresh Raina who aimed a loose drive at a delivery angling across him to be well held by a diving Ross Taylor at slip.
New Zealand, reduced to three frontline bowlers, missed Bennett after Martin had to be taken off.
Earlier, Williamson was fluid and composed. He adhered to the basics, playing forward and with the full face of the willow to length deliveries, going right back to the short-pitched balls.
He cut and punched off the back-foot — he was provided with a welter of opportunities with both Harbhajan and Ojha pitching short and wide.
Williamson also leaned into his off-drives and was balanced while on-driving, flicking or clipping the ball. When Zaheer Khan pitched short, he pulled.
A trigger movement forward from a relaxed stance — he does not commit himself to the front foot though — provides Williamson momentum.
If the delivery lands short, he is quick to rock back. Williamson and Vettori raised 86 for the sixth wicket in another crucial association for New Zealand.
A milestone
During his innings of 41, the lion-hearted Vettori became the third cricketer — legends Kapil Dev and Ian Botham being the others — to pick 300 wickets and score 4000 runs in Tests.
Vettori survived a close leg-before shout off Sreesanth but did essay a few punishing strokes.
He punched Zaheer down the ground and dismissed Ojha for a six over long-off. Williamson and Vettori fell on either side of lunch.
Ojha got Williamson to push at one spinning away while Vettori attempted to cut a Raina delivery not short enough for the stroke.
Disappointing again
While left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was a mixed bag even as he scalped four, spin spearhead Harbhajan Singh disappointed once again.
There was hardly any bite for him from the surface. Is he imparting enough revolutions on the ball? India needs its spin combination to be buzzing in these conditions.
