Captain Stephen Fleming was in his best touch and at the 15-over mark was 32 not out with Mathew Sinclair on 15 and New Zealand were 76 for one wicket. The ease with which they scored the runs made a mockery, yet again, of the Indian batting effort

Heavy clouds rolled over the ground during the lunch break, but New Zealand came out with definite intent of avoiding returning tomorrow.

Zaheer Khan's second over was hit for 15 runs and he was removed from the attack at that stage with Nathan Astle taking 12 of the runs.

However, in the next over Javagal Srinath took the edge of Astle's bat and the catch was held by first slip Rahul Dravid as he was out for a run-a-ball 15. New Zealand were 28 for one wicket.

Ashish Nehra replaced Khan and was pulled for four by Stephen Fleming who was looking for his first big innings of the series. Mathew Sinclair unleashed a cover driven three from Srinath and then straight drove Nehra for four.

Fleming brought up the 50 with a pull just behind square for four runs, the milestone coming up off 63 balls.

Andre Adams was the key performer for New Zealand, taking five wickets for 22 runs to equal Matthew Hart's effort as second-best bowling performance by a New Zealander.

Yuvraj Singh was the only player to try to wrest the initiative from the New Zealand bowlers.

But from the moment that Adams ripped through the top and middle-order India were doomed to yet another scramble for runs.

While getting to 100 for six runs in the 32nd over, India then lost Ajit Agarkar in a bad run out. He played the ball square of the wicket and Mathew Sinclair completed a diving save and quick recovery to get the ball back over the stumps for wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum to take the bails off.

Then on 107, Zaheer Khan edged a straightforward ball to McCullum to be out for one.

Kyle Mills had a fine return from his 10 overs taking one for 28. So too, did Jacob Oram with none for 28 from his 10.

Yuvraj had looked to be the player to try to carry the side through to the 50 over mark, which would have been a new experience for India in this series. But he too, succumbed to a loss of concentration when trying to hit a ball from Scott Styris over the boundary.

However, Tuffey was lurking in the deep and he ran around to take another fine catch.

As lamentable as India's batting has been, it has been pressured by some fine New Zealand fielding and today was another graphic example of that. India were 118 for nine wickkets with Yuvraj out for 25 scored off 61 balls.

Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra were only able to add another four runs before the end came.

It was another disappointing performance by the tourists who now find themselves odds on to be 4-0 and beaten in the seven-match series.

A middle-order collapse left the side reeling on a pitch that should not have been the culprit.

At the 30-over mark, India were 94 for six. Parthiv Patel had scored 13 off 31 balls and got out to the last ball of the 30th over.

Yuvraj Singh was 10 not out.

India's batting folded again, not because of any problems in the pitch but because of their own impetuousness.

This was a poor demonstration of application.

Rahul Dravid was bowled by Andre Adams off only the second ball he bowled, just after the first drinks break. He had scored 18 off 52 balls and had been looking likely to provide the anchor India so badly needed. However, he fell when failing to keep out a relatively straight ball.

Then to further complicate things, Mohammad Kaif turned a ball straight to Craig Mcmillan who didn't have to move a centimetre as square leg to take the catch and Kaif departed for a duck. Adams was again the bowler.

Dinesh Mongia had a brief introduction to New Zealand conditions when scoring 12 off 20 balls, including a lovely backfoot drive for four, the ball before he was dismissed, hooking Adams to Daniel Vettori on the backward square leg boundary.

Then, two overs later captain Sourav Ganguly attempted to get a ball from Daryl Tuffey out to the third man boundary but it proved a poor choice as Kyle Mills was able to run in from the boundary and take the catch.

India were reeling at 76 for five in conditions that should have resulted in much better batting.

Yuvraj Singh and Parthiv Patel were given the job of resurrecting the innnings. Patel, the 17-year-old had a life when on three as he attempted a cut shot from Mills' bowling. Mathew Sinclair had to move to his left to catch the ball but he was unable to pull it in.

Andre Adams was taken off after bowling six overs and taking four for 18.

Stephen Fleming asked India to bat first after winning the toss and his bowlers were soon having to cope with some pressure of a type they hadn't faced previously in the series.

After 15 overs, India were 55 for one wicket with Rahul Dravid 18 not out and Dinesh Mongia on five.

India made their best start of the series, which wasn't too hard considering their previous best had been one for 10 in the last game at Christchurch. They put on 38 runs in the first 12 overs before the first wicket fell.

Their 50 came up in the 14th over off 83 balls.

Dravid joined Virender Sehwag in the opening position, and after taking an over or two to test the pace of the pitch, they started to go for their strokes. Sehwag showed that conditions were more favourable with a lovely extra cover drive to the boundary for the first four of the innings.

They were also looking for singles, quicker than has been previously the case. Dravid was happier placing the ball for twos and threes, while Sehwag was looking to play his big shots, and a square drive for four in Tuffey's fourth over was evidence of that. It was a powerful shot.

When Jacob Oram relieved Daryl Tuffey, whose first four overs cost him 18 runs, Sehwag clipped a lovely boundary behind point.

Oram responded with a maiden next over however.

Then when Stephen Fleming made another change at the bowling crease, Andre Adams marked his return to the side by getting Sehwag second ball as he tried to hit a rising ball over the slips. But he wasn't able to get it past Nathan Astle at slip who was a full stretch.

He had batted 39 balls for his 23 and hit four fours.

Dravid also found the pitch more to his liking than earlier strips and demonstrated that with a superb pull shot to square leg later in Adams' first over.

India have changed their wicket-keeper after the problems Rahul Dravid has been having, and Parthiv Patel will make his One-Day International while Dinesh Mongia has been named despite only arriving in the country yesterday.

Conditions for the start of the match are overcast but mild, although the forecast was for showers during the day. However, the local opinion is that the day will clear and a full day's play will be possible.

New Zealand named Chris Harris as their 12th man which means that both Andre Adams and Scott Styris will make their first appearance of the series.

The pitch is an untried block at this level, having been relaid since last summer's three-day match between England and local side Otago.

It has a greenish look to it and Fleming clearly decided to give his bowlers first chance on the track.

The sides are:

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey. (Chris Harris - 12th man).

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaaif, Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Parthiv Patel, Dinesh Mongia. (Rakesh Patel - 12th man).

The umpires are: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka) and Doug Cowie (New Zealand). Tony Hill is the third umpire.