AP
India's Gautam Gambhir chops the ball down while playing against New Zealand on the third day of the third international cricket Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand, yesterday.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP):

Gautam Gambhir made 167 and Sachin Tendulkar fell for nine yesterday in what may be his last Test innings in New Zealand as India reached 349 for five at stumps on the third day to strengthen its grip on the third cricket Test.

With Gambhir's guidance and contributions of 60 by Rahul Dravid and 61 from V.V.S. Laxman, India took a 531-run lead over New Zealand with five second-innings wickets intact and two full days remaining.

Poor lighting

At stumps, drawn 25 minutes early due to poor light, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was 16 not out and Yuvraj Singh was unbeaten on 15.

Gambhir posted his sixth Test century, his second in three innings, and recorded his third-highest Test score after his 206 against Australia and 179 against England.

India dismissed New Zealand on Saturday for 197 in reply to their first innings score of 379 and were 51-1, 233 runs ahead when play began yesterday.

They steadily built on their already considerable advantage, thanks largely to Gambhir, who batted 352 minutes and hit 16 boundaries and two sixes, and with the assistance of Dravid and Laxman.

They kept New Zealand in the field throughout the third day, played in bitterly cold and windy conditions and which left India poised to claim their first Test series win in New Zealand in 41 years.

India have a maximum of six sessions to win the match - a time frame which Gambhir feels is more than enough even if bad light and the potential for rain are factored in.

"If we can't get them out in that time we don't deserve to win this Test match - we don't need two days to get them out," Gambhir said. "With the type of bowling we have I think we can get them out. Any team will find it difficult to bat five sessions with the attack we have."

First test result

India won the first Test at Hamilton by 10 wickets, drew the second at Napier and now need only a draw at the Basin Reserve to clinch a Test series victory in New Zealand for the first time since Indian's first toured here in 1968.

"It was quite tough standing out there for 90 overs with wind howling in your face, but I guess we've done pretty well," New Zealand opener Martin Guptill said.

"I'm sure they will declare at some stage but I'm not sure when. They could declare overnight, they could declare tomorrow, but we have to be ready to bat for a long time whenever they do."