Kohli, Rahane sizzle to put India on top

08-Oct-2016New Zealand lost their third consecutive toss, but had early success when Jeetan Patel snuffed out M Vijay•BCCIGautam Gambhir, replacing Shikhar Dhawan, marked his return to Test cricket with confidence, and raced away with consecutive sixes against Matt Henry•BCCIHe looked especially comfortable against spin in an assured second-wicket stand with Cheteshwar Pujara•BCCIHowever, Trent Boult beat Gambhir’s inside-edge and rapped him on the pads for 29•BCCIPujara and Virat Kohli then took India to 75 for 2 at lunch•BCCIPujara resumed confidently after the break, before he fell to a ripper from Mitchell Santner that took out his off stump•Associated PressBut Virat Kohli moved his feet well and held firm in the midst of a testing spell from the New Zealand spinners. In the company of Ajinkya Rahane, he steered India to 148 for 3 at tea•BCCIKohli raised his half-century soon after the break with a neat drive through covers•BCCIRahane was on the receiving end of short balls throughout his stay•BCCIBut he hung on and when the full ones came, he put them away en route to his 10th Test fifty•BCCIKohli scampered through for a single and beat a direct throw at the non-striker’s end to raise his 13th Test century•AFPThe Kohli-Rahane partnership realised 167 unbeaten runs, and took India to 267 for 3 when stumps were drawn•AFP