(MENAFN- Kora) India ripped through New Zealand's top order in the opening session on Thursday with Ishant Sharma claiming two wickets as the home side stumbled early in Auckland
But after Ross Taylor (three) was caught by Ravindra Jadeja off Zaheer Khan's bowling in the 18th over to leave New Zealand at 30-3, McCullum and Williamson knuckled down
McCullum finished the day on 143 not out alongside Corey Anderson (42 not out) with New Zealand in a commanding position after some early worries in the first of two Tests against India
India won the toss and it looked to be a good decision as early as the 10th over when Ishant claimed the first wicket of the day, with Ajinkya Rahane diving to his right at gully to pluck an edge from Hamish Rutherford's bat to dismiss the 24-year-old for six
It was 23-2 soon after as Zaheer trapped Peter Fulton (13) LBW, while Taylor followed the two openers back to the pavilion when he drove Ishant straight to Jadeja at mid-off
But with McCullum joining Williamson at the crease, New Zealand suddenly looked much more solid and managed to reach 54-3 by lunch, before the pair steadily built their partnership in the middle session to be 179-3 at tea
McCullum reached three figures first, lifting Jadeja over long off for six in the eighth over of the final session
The New Zealand skipper's hundred came off 135 deliveries with 16 fours to go with the six, while Williamson lifted his bat just two overs later after 138 balls (10 fours, two sixes)
Zaheer eventually dismissed Williamson for 113 when the 23-year-old batsman flicked a ball down leg side to India's captain and wicketkeeper MS Dhoni but New Zealand did not falter with McCullum and Anderson comfortably steering the home side to stumps
Ishant finished the day with easily the best figures of India's bowlers (2-62 off 21 overs)
Zaheer (2-98 off 23) was the most expensive for the visitors in a tough day in the field, while New Zealand's batsmen had the most joy when facing Jadeja (0-81 off 20)
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