Indore Test: Guptill, Latham notch fifties as Kiwis stage strong reply

Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham smashed blistering half-centuries as New Zealand staged a strong fight back against India on the Day Three of the third and final Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here on Monday.

Resuming at the overnight score of 28-0, Guptill (59*) and Latham (53) managed to keep Indian spinners at bay as the duo went on to share a huge 118-run opening stand to provide their side with a solid start.

At lunch, New Zealand were at 125-1, with Guptill and Kane Williamson (3*) batting at the crease. The visitors are still trailing by 432 runs against India.

Earlier, prolific centuries from skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane had put India in a commanding position after two days' play in the final match

Kohli (211) scored his second Test-match double-hundred while Rahane made 188 before the hosts declared their first innings at 557-5.

In the process, Kohli, who scored 200 against West Indies in July, in Antigua, also became the first Indian batsman to make two double-hundreds as Test captain. The skipper also became the first Indian batsman since Sachin Tendulkar in 2010 to score two double-tons in a year.

India are currently leading the three-match series 2-0 and New Zealand have to display some extraordinary batting performance if they want to avoid a series whitewash.