Washington Sundar, who returned to the Test team after March 2021, justified his return with his first five-wicket haul after five appearances. After removing Southee to take his fifth wicket, the 25-year-old brushed off the end in the final session. His first wicket came when he bowled Ravindra for 65 to break a 59-run fourth-wicket stand with Daryl Mitchell as New Zealand collapsed to 197-3.

Conway reached his 11th Test 50 with a four just after lunch and, along with fellow left-hander Ravindra, put on 62 runs to thwart the Indian attack.

Ashwin overtakes Lyon


Ashwin broke through and put Conway behind with a long-length throw outside the off-stump.

The wicket took Ashwin past Australian spinner Nathan Lyon's 530 wickets and placed him seventh on the list of leading Test bowlers.

Latham and Conway blunted the initial attack from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, prompting Rohit to field Ashwin in the eighth over. He struck with his fifth ball to trap Latham lbw for 15.

Conway then took Will Young to 44 and the two looked comfortable before Ashwin struck again, leaving Young 18 behind.

Unplayable deliveries

Washington eased the gloom with a couple of unplayable deliveries that set up Ravindra and Tom Blundell (3) within 10 minutes of tea. He returned after the break, replacing Daryl Mitchell (18), Glenn Phillips (9), Southee (5) and Ajaz Patel (4), leaving the touring side in complete shock.

Mitchell Santner was the last to go down with an entertaining 33, the left-hander's stumps being shattered by another clever shot from Washington.

Conway earlier reached his third fifty in four innings with a drive boundary on the first ball after lunch from Jasprit Bumrah and followed it up with two more in the same over.

He also used the reverse sweep to good effect, but fell behind after a misjudged drive from Ashwin, who took his 531st wicket, overtaking Australia's Nathan Lyon and finishing seventh on the all-time list.

New Zealand chose to bat and got off to a good start as new permanent captain Tom Latham and Conway safely beat the fast bowlers, but India hit back by introducing spin after seven overs.

Ashwin left captain Latham stuck just in front of the wicket for 15 minutes, with one drifting and spinning, while Washington also got early support from the Black Soil wicket.

New Zealand continued to rotate the strike and punished the rare miss before Ashwin struck again, putting Will Young behind for 18 after a successful check when the batsman tried to tickle a shot down the leg side.

India have won their last 18 home series since 2012 but that record is at stake after they lost the opening Test in Bengaluru. The final will take place in Mumbai early next month.