India have struck back hard with four quick wickets after New Zealand elected not to enforce the follow-on in the first cricket Test in Auckland.

The Black Caps, who had a first innings lead of 301, staggered to lunch on day three at 4-15 after a session in which just 87 runs were scored and 10 wickets fell.

In the 7.4 overs before the break, the home side lost openers Hamish Rutherford (0) and Peter Fulton (5), first-innings century-maker Kane Williamson (3) and double centurion Brendon McCullum (1).

Rutherford was trapped leg before and Fulton holed out at cover, while Williamson fell to a brilliant diving catch by Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket.

Seamer Mohammed Shami claimed the first three scalps, before skipper McCullum was run-out when Jadeja produced another great piece of fielding.

McCullum, who scored 224 in the first innings, had had a life three balls earlier when first slip Murali Vijay dropped a chest-high catch off Zaheer Khan.

The session had begun so well for New Zealand, as they wrapped up the last six Indian wickets for 72 runs to dismiss their opponents for 202.

Their pace attack produced a fine performance, with Neil Wagner finishing with 4-64.

Wagner followed up the platform set by Trent Boult and Tim Southee, who had identical figures of 3-38.

The Black Caps came out on day three with the accent on bowling full and the strategy paid early dividends.

Southee made the first breakthrough when he had Ajinkya Rahane, on 26, playing at a widish delivery and edging to Ross Taylor at first slip.

Seven balls later, Rohit Sharma, who had been the anchor of the Indian innings, departed for 72 when Boult shattered his stumps.

Wagner then picked up the prized wicket of Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who was caught by keeper BJ Watling for 10.