Wellington: Indian tailenders frustrated New Zealand to be at 375/9 in their first innings at stumps on the first day of the third and final Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.

India scored 185 runs in 35 overs with the loss of 4 wickets in the last session of the day with Ishant Sharma (15) and Munaf Patel (14) still at the crease.

This is India's highest score on the opening day of a Test that was built on impressive contributions by the lower order batsmen.

Zaheer Khan hit 6 fours in his 23-ball 33 including four consessive boundaries in Iain O'Brien before had him caught behind by wicket keeper Brendon McCullum by a bouncer.

Harbhajan hit to mid-off for New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori to take the catch. Harbhajan frustrated New Zealand hitting a six and 7 fours in his 60-run knock that came off 78 balls. This is Bhajji 7th Test fifty.

Harbhajan added 79 vital runs with his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the 7th wicket. Dhoni hit his 15th half-century before being dismissed by Tim Southee.

New Zealand fought back brilliantly in the second session to reduce India to 190/5 in their first innings at tea.

Jesse Ryder trapped Yuvraj Singh plumb in front of the wicket. Southee took his first wicket when Laxman reached out to a wide delivery and edged to second slip where Tim McIntosh dived to his left to take the catch.

The dismissal came when Tendulkar went to the back foot to play a square drive away from his body with hardly any foot movement but the extra bounce had him edging the delivery to keeper Brendon McCullum for the catch. Tendulkar hit 11 fours in his 62-run (53rd half-century) knock and added 90 runs with Rahul Dravid for the third wicket.

O'Brien got Kiwis the first breakthrough when Sehwag was cramped for room to an incoming delivery and edged it to keeper McCullum for the catch. Sehwag hit a six and 7 fours in his 51-ball 48.

In The next over, Franklin took his first wicket in the series when he trapped Gambhir plumb in front of the wicket by a cross seam delivery. Gambhir hit 2 fours in his 23-run knock.

Earlier, New Zealand skipper won the toss and called India to bat. Kiwis have two changes Southee and Flynn comes for Patel and How, while India skipper back after missed second Test at Napier in place of Dinesh Karthik.

• The 73-run stand between Sehwag and Gambhir is India's first 50+ stand for the opening wicket at Wellington in 11 innings and 6 Tests.
• For two Tests in a row Dravid and Tendulkar have missed out a 100+ stand, which would have given the pair a record for the most century stands.
• This is the third 50+ stand between Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh in Tests.
• Dhoni recorded his maiden Test fifty in New Zealand.
• This is harbhajan Singh’s highest score in New Zealand.
• This is India's best performance on the opening day of a Test match at Wellington as well New Zealand. The previous best being: 270 at Christchurch in 1976.
• Iain O'Brien claimed his 50th wicket in his 17th Test match. He becomes the 31st Kiwi bowler to achieve this feat.