Seamers put India in driving seat

Paceman Mohammed Shami picked up two wickets in the session as India wrapped up New Zealand's first innings for 204 on the third day of the second Test at Eden Gardens on Sunday, giving the hosts a lead of 112 runs.

India opener Shikhar Dhawan (four), who survived a brutal opening spell from fast bowler Trent Boult when he was hit twice on his left hand, and Rohit Sharma (seven) added 12 to the hosts' lead for no loss at lunch in their second innings.

Resuming on 128 for seven, New Zealand's Jeetan Patel (47) and BJ Watling (25) compiled a fighting eighth-wicket stand of 60 before the former fell trying to slog off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's first ball of the day.

Patel, who had played his last Test in January 2013, hit nine fours in his run-a-ball innings and, with wicketkeeper-batsman Watling, kept India at bay for over an hour in the first session while compiling his best score.

The 36-year-old was given out leg before against Ravindra Jadeja on 47 but was reprieved after replays showed the left-arm spinner had overstepped.

With his maiden fifty one hit away, Patel, whose 47 was New Zealand's highest individual score in the innings, decided to go for a boundary on a flighted delivery from Ashwin but only managed to top edge it to be caught by Shami.

Local favourite Shami then took his innings tally to three with all his wickets coming via leg before decisions. Paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar did most of the damage with five wickets on Saturday.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 and a win in Kolkata would see them reclaim top spot in the world Test rankings, which they lost recently to Pakistan.