Lusty hitting has kept New Zealand’s head above water but an Ishant Sharma-inspired India remain in command through two sessions of the second Test in Wellington.

The Black Caps lost four wickets in each session on a green Basin Reserve to be 8-166 at tea after being asked to bat first.

Lanky pace bowler Sharma dominated the first two sessions, taking 5-44 from 15 taxing overs.

He made the most of the pace and bounce on offer after captain MS Dhoni won a crucial toss – his seventh from seven games on this tour.

Aside from the last over before tea, Dhoni employed a three-pronged pace attack throughout the day.

Mohammed Shami was rewarded with his consistency, taking 3-63, while Zaheer Khan (0-57) was less effective.

They couldn’t match the potency of Sharma, who followed up superbly on his nine-wicket match return in a losing performance during last week’s first Test in Auckland.

Struggling at 4-51 at lunch, New Zealand turned to aggression in the second session.

Allrounders Corey Anderson (24 off 43), James Neesham (33 off 35) and paceman Tim Southee (19 not out off 21) swung freely to lift the score closer to respectability.

Kane Williamson’s 47 was the only score of note from a top order sorely missing expectant father Ross Taylor.

Openers Peter Fulton (13) and Hamish Rutherford (12) continued their forgettable summer while debutant Tom Latham departed for an eight-ball duck as the hosts slumped to 3-26.

Brendon McCullum rounded out a dreadful session when caught driving lazily to mid-off for eight.

Anderson was starting to open his shoulders when Sharma had him caught for 24 from a ball that ballooned off his pads following an inside edge.

BJ Watling disappeared for a duck before Williamson and debutant Jimmy Neesham put on a lively 47 for the seventh wicket.

Neesham looked comfortable and fluent before he was caught behind off Shami, then Williamson’s at-times fluky stay was ended by sharp low catch at second slip by Rohit Sharma.

Williamson was caught twice – on 15 and 23 – but received a lifeline on both occasions after replays showed Khan and Sharma respectively had bowled front-foot no balls.

Earlier, India named an unchanged team from the Auckland Test while the Black Caps introduced Latham and Neesham for Taylor and legspinner Ish Sodhi.