Another lost toss and lethal bowling from Ishant Sharma have left New Zealand in serious danger of squandering their 1-0 lead in the two-Test series against India.
The tourists on Friday enjoyed the best day of what has been a miserable tour, clamping control of the second Test in Wellington.
Sharma bowled with venom and bounce in taking career-best figures of 6-51 on the opening day as the Black Caps capitulated for 192 on a green Basin Reserve pitch.
India zipped to 2-100 off 28 overs in response on a surface which should flatten out over coming days under forecast sunny skies.
First Test centurion Shikhar Dhawan survived some early scares to be 71 not out while nightwatchman Sharma is unbeaten on three.
Opener Murali Vijay (2) gloved an early Tim Southee delivery behind while Cheteshwar Pujara (19) was trapped lbw by Trent Boult in fading light after sharing the day's biggest partnership of 87 with Dhawan.
The most decisive moment of the day was the toss, where Indian captain MS Dhoni ensured he will end the tour with a perfect seven-from-seven against counterpart Brendon McCullum.
This was the most important win of the lot.
Not only did the pitch offer plenty but the hosts had selected an all-seam line-up after favouring debutant allrounder James Neesham over legspinner Ish Sodhi.
A New Zealand batting line-up missing expectant father Ross Taylor never looked comfortable against the height and aggression of Sharma on a pitch almost custom-made for the lanky 55-Test veteran.
After grinding an opening partnership of 23, openers Peter Fulton (13) and Hamish Rutherford (12) both failed to pass 50 for the seventh successive time, heaping more pressure on their immediate Test futures.
Debutant No.4 Tom Latham, filling the giant shoes of Taylor, also fell to Sharma without scoring, leaving Kane Williamson and McCullum aiming to repeat their massive first-innings rescue act in last week's 40-run win at Eden Park.
However, McCullum (8) played a loose shot before Williamson's streaky 47 provided some support for lively lower-innings cameos from allrounders Corey Anderson (24 off 43) and Neesham (33 off 35), and paceman Tim Southee (32 off 32).
Indian paceman Mohammed Shami (4-70) helped wrap up the New Zealand innings inside 53 overs.
