McCullum puts New Zealand in control at 329/4 against India

Auckland: Centuries for Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson lifted New Zealand off the ropes and into a position of command on the opening day of the first Test against India.

Captain McCullum posted his eighth Test hundred soon after tea on Thursday and Williamson followed two overs later with his fifth as New Zealand progressed to 329-4 at stumps.

Williamson was eventually removed for 113 and at stumps McCullum was unbeaten on 143 with Corey Anderson on 42 in a 78-run stand for the fifth wicket.

McCullum and Williamson came together when New Zealand were in trouble at 30-3 after being sent into bat on a bowler-friendly Eden Park wicket.

The heavy cloud cover and green-topped wicket were ripe for the Indian bowlerswho made the most of the conditions and runs proved difficult to obtain as New Zealand struggled to reach 54-3 by lunch.

But when the sun broke through after the break and the track flattened out into a good batting strip, McCullum and Williamson stole the initiative away from India in a 221-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Brendon McCullum plays a shot. Pic/ AFP

They batted with confidence as Williamson notched his 50 with a top-edge for six and McCullum cleared the rope for his hundred when he belted Ravindra Jadeja over the long-off boundary.

McCullum's innings so far contains 18 fours and two sixes while the more textbook approach of Williamson produced 10 fours and two sixes.

Both batsmen also took risks and offered chances. Murali Vijay at first slip dropped