India have got themselves back into the contest during an eventful third day’s play in Auckland to leave the first cricket Test tantalisingly poised.

The tourists were 1-87 in their second innings at stumps on Saturday, 320 short of their victory target of 407.

They have six more sessions to pull off what would be the third-highest successful run chase in Tests.

It would also be the highest in New Zealand, eclipsing the 5-348 the West Indies scored at Eden Park in February 1969.

The scenario was set up after Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum decided not to enforce the follow-on with a lead of 301 and his side went on to be skittled for 105 in their second innings.

India made a solid start to the chase and openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan put on 36 before Vijay departed for 13.

He tried to turn a leg-side delivery from Tim Southee and got an edge to wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

Dhawan had an early life, when he drove a Southee delivery to short cover, where a diving McCullum couldn’t hold on to the chance.

He will resume at 49, while Cheteshwar Pujara is on 22.

On a day in which 17 wickets fell, New Zealand’s dominance had continued into the morning session.

They claimed the last six Indian wickets for 72 runs to close the tourists’ first innings at 202.

Their pace attack put in an excellent performance, with Neil Wagner finishing with the best figures of 4-64.

Wagner followed up the platform set by Trent Boult and Southee, who had identical figures of 3-38.

The accent was on bowling full and the strategy paid early dividends.

Southee made the first breakthrough when he had Ajinkya Rahane, on 26, playing at a widish delivery and edging to first slip.

Seven balls later, Rohit Sharma departed for 72 when Boult shattered his stumps.

Wagner then picked up the prized wicket of Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who was caught by Watling for 10.

But the decision not to make India bat again backfired.

The Black Caps lost four wickets in the half-hour they had to negotiate before lunch to be reduced to 4-15.

Wickets continued to fall regularly, with Ross Taylor providing the only real resistance with 41.

Seamers Mohammed Shami and Zaheer Khan did the main damage early on, keeping a tight line to attacking fields.

Shami finished with 3-37, while Khan took 2-23.

Ishant Sharma, the pick of India’s bowlers in the first innings with a six-wicket bag, cleaned up the three remaining wickets after tea to end with 3-28.