New Zealand's Tim McIntosh scored his second Test century, his first against India, to help New Zealand post a solid total on the opening day of the second Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.

Scorecard

At stumps, the Kiwis were 258 for 4 with Jesse Ryder (22) and Gareth Hopkins (0) at the crease.

McIntosh was dismissed at the fag end of the day when he chopped on a Zaheer Khan on delivery on to the stumps.

Earlier, Martin Guptill and Tim McIntosh added 147 runs for the second wicket to build a solid platform for New Zealand in their first innings.

At tea, the visitors reached 159 for two wickets with opener McIntosh (55) and Ross Taylor (four) at the crease.

S Sreesanth removed Brendon McCullum (4) after New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bat.

McCullum was squared on by an outswinger from Sreesanth and edged to India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.

Guptill (85) fell leg before to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha after a shaky start, during which he survived a caught behind off a no ball and a dropped catch.

The right-handed batsman, who replaced BJ Watling from the first Test, used his feet well against the spinners as he grew in confidence and hit nine boundaries and a six.

Sreesanth also had Guptill edge to Dhoni with one that swung late but umpire Kumar Dharmasena ruled it as a no-ball after consulting with the third umpire.

Guptill, was fortunate again when Dhoni floored a sharp chance on 11 off Harbhajan's bowling.

A couple of drives through the cover and square region and Guptill's six over long-on off Harbhajan were the highlights of New Zealand batting in the first session.

Left-hander McIntosh, who was under tremendous pressure after a golden duck in the last match, brought up his fifth Test half-century, with a fine leg glance off Harbhajan Singh.

McIntosh, after a pair in the first Test at Motera, was looking good for a big one and giving him company was Ross Taylor, who came in after Ojha had Guptill trapped in front for a well-crafted 85 that was laced with nine sweetly-timed hits to the fence and a six over long-off.

Before Taylor's arrival, the duo of Guptill and McIntosh, after seeing off a testing spell of swing bowling from Sreesanth during which they were made to work hard for the runs, settled down in the post-lunch session to get New Zealand's innings back on track.

Ross Taylor made 24 from 53 balls before he played a loose shot against Zaheer Khan and was caught behind.