HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP):

Sachin Tendulkar passed new milestones in his 157-Test career yesterday, posting his 52nd half century and becoming the second most-capped player in history, as India reached 278 for four on the second day of the series-opening match against New Zealand.

Tendulkar is now between two ex-Australian captains on the all-time Test list, surpassing Allan Border's 156 and moving closer to Stephen Waugh's record of 168.

He marked the occasion with an unbeaten 70, one of three batsmen to reach half centuries, as India approached New Zealand's first innings of 279 with six wickets in hand before bad light stopped play.

Gautam Gambhir made 72, Rahul Dravid 66 and V.V.S. Laxman 30 in an Indian batting performance which was steady but which never entirely crushed the resistance of the New Zealand team.

The 105-run second-wicket partnership between Gambhir and Dravid was the largest on a day on which India added 249 runs for four wickets in 83.5 overs.

Gambhir and Virender Sehwag put on 37 for the first wicket, Dravid and Tendulkar 35 for the third, Tendulkar and Laxman 61 for the fourth, and Yuvraj Singh had added 60 with Tendulkar for the fifth by stumps.