New Zealand pace bowler Chris Martin grabbed two quick wickets to leave India struggling on 2 for 3 at tea in its second innings on the fourth day of the first Test on Sunday.
Martin had both opener Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins. Virender Sehwag was run out as India slumped after taking a 28-run first innings lead.
India is now just 30 runs ahead with seven wickets remaining.
Earlier, New Zealand batted through almost two sessions as Kane Williamson scored a century in his Test debut to lead the tourists to 459 in reply to India’s 487.
Williamson, 20, hit 10 fours in his patient 131 and shared 86 runs for the sixth wicket with captain Daniel Vettori (41) as New Zealand were all out shortly before tea at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The visitors were replying to India’s first innings total of 487.
Resuming at his overnight 87, Williamson struck left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan for two fours to race to the 100-run mark, becoming the youngest and eighth New Zealand batsman to score a century on his debut.
The baby-faced batsman celebrated the memorable moment by raising his bat and helmet towards the dressing room where his teammates gave him a standing ovation.
Vettori had spent two hours on the crease, hitting a four and lofting left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha once over long-off for a huge six.
The genial Kiwi achieved a personal milestone when on 38, becoming the third all-rounder after Ian Botham of England and India’s Kapil Dev to complete the Test double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets.
Williamson’s marathon 299-ball knock came to an end when he edged out to Venkatsai Laxman at first slip in the last over before lunch by Ojha.
India’s bowlers looked off-colour as they struggled on an unresponsive pitch.
Khan, the bowling spearhead, again failed to find success after going wicketless in the three sessions Saturday. He has so far conceded 68 runs in 26 overs while taking one wicket.