India have beaten New Zealand by 197 runs in the first cricket test in Kanpur to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
India celebrate another wicket during the Black Caps first test in Kanpur Photo: AFP
Resuming on 93 for 4 chasing a 434-run victory target, New Zealand were all out for 236 in the first hour after lunch as India won their 500th test match in style at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium.
For the tourists, Luke Ronchi (80) and Mitchell Santner (71) struck half-centuries but it was nowhere near enough to pull off what would have been the highest successful chase in the history of test cricket.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned 6-132 to go with the four wickets he had claimed in the first innings.
The Black Caps captain Kane Williamson conceded India were too good.
"[It's] obviously disappointing, whenever you lose it's disappointing but credit has to go to India, they're a very good side - particularly in their home conditions - and they showed that again," he said.
"There were a couple of moments that I would reflect on as where the game turned slightly more in their favour.
"I think the back end of the first innings with the bat and certainly when we bowled in the second innings there was probably a three hour period where we didn't bowl very well and they got away from us.
"As a unit, we want to be able to apply pressure for longer, which isn't always easy in this part of the world against a side like India. But it's certainly a challenge for us moving forward."
Kolkata hosts the second test from Friday, with off-spinner Jeetan Patel recalled to the Black Caps as an injury replacement for Mark Craig.
Craig has been ruled out of the remainder of the side's tour of India with a side strain.
- Reuters, RNZ
