Hamilton: Half-centuries from Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar ensured that India made slow but steady progress on the second day and were only one run short of New Zealand's 279 when bad light stopped play at Seddon Park.

Today wasn't as exciting as the first day - when 10 wickets fell and over 300 runs were scored - but India maintained their edge while New Zealand fought to ensure they weren't shut out of the game. 

Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh took India 278/4 in their first innings before bad light stopped play early on Day 2 in the first Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Thursday (March 19).

Tendulkar hit 11 fours in his 70-run knock, while Yuvraj scored 8 runs with the help of a boundary. India still trail New Zealand by 1 run.

Tendulkar reached his 52nd half-century with a punch through the covers off the back foot off Chris Martin.

Play will begin 9 minutes early tomorrow that's 21.51 GMT (10.51 am local time). India trail by one run 9 minutes early, because today play stop 6.1 overs before due to bad lights.

Chris Martin dismissed VVS Laxman in the first over with the second new ball to reduce India to 238/4 in their first innings on Day 2 in Rahul Dravid is clean bowled on Day 2 of the first Test in Hamilton.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori took the second new ball in overcast conditions with a breeze blowing across the ground and Martin struck with the third delivery as Laxman edged to first slip for Ross Taylor to take the catch.

Laxman hit 4 boundaries in his 30-run knock and added 61 runs with Sachin Tendulkar for the fourth wicket that came after New Zealand took 2 wickets in the second session.

Dravid went forward for a defensive shot but the ball came in sharply nipping off the seam and sneaked through the gap between bat and pad to hit the top of off-stump. Dravid hit 12 fours in his knock of 66 and was looking set for a century, but then it was a special delivery by O'Brien.

Chris Martin gave New Zealand the second breakthrough when he induced an edge off Gambhir's willow by a reverse swinging delivery for keeper Brendon McCullum to take the catch.

Gambhir hit 11 fours in his knock of 72 and added 105 runs with Rahul Dravid for the second wicket. Gambhir and Dravid took India to 108 for one at lunch after India lost Virender Sehwag (24) by a needless run out in the third over of the day, who was unable to beat the direct hit from the deep by James Franklin.

Breif Score: India 278/4 (Gambhir 72, Tendulkar 70*, Dravid 66) trail New Zealand 279 by 1 run.