By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Hamilton, March 21 NZPA - India followed up their maiden one-day series triumph on New Zealand soil by crushing their hosts by 10 wickets in the first test at Seddon Park today to erase a 33-year blight on their cricketing record.

A week after completing a 3-1 one-day series win India ended a 13-test winless streak in New Zealand by securing their first test success since the legendary Sunil Gavaskar's side won by eight wickets in Auckland in 1976.

Thoroughly dominant after New Zealand plunged to 61 for six on the opening morning, India loped to victory with more than a day to spare.

Set an academic 39 for victory after practically spoon-feeding Brendon McCullum a century, Gautam Gambhir hit 30 not out and Rahul Dravid eight not out in just 5.2 overs to achieve their goal.

Offspinner Harbhajan Singh earlier claimed career-best figures against New Zealand of six for 63 as any hope of a lopsided contest surviving into tomorrow's final day diminished.

Harbhajan took five of the seven wickets to fall as New Zealand steadily deteriorated from 75 for three overnight to 279 all out midway through the final session.

He improved his previous best against New Zealand -- three for 34 at Kanpur a decade ago -- with 28 overs of toil.

Daniel Flynn provided the only tangible resistance among New Zealand's top order.

The gritty left-hander had the satisfaction of recording his third test half-century from 118 balls before he was caught in close off Harbhajan for 62, grafted over for nearly five hours.

Flynn alone among the New Zealanders showed the temperament and gumption necessary to occupy the crease for long periods when it was needed most.

McCullum eventually topscored with 84 although his runs were accumulated when India lapsed into defence mode despite taking the new ball when it was due.

New Zealand's vice-captain added 76 for the ninth wicket with Iain O'Brien, who made 14 from 45 balls in 100 minutes, as India appeared to be going through the motions.

Defeat by an innings was a real prospect when Daniel Vettori was eighth out when the score was 199 but McCullum and O'Brien ensured New Zealand avoided that indignity.

McCullum had a reprieve on three when he survived a compelling leg before wicket shout and proceeded to bring up his half-century from 85 balls.

He eventually struck 11 boundaries from 135 balls before holing out to Yuvraj Singh.

Condemned to survival mode since India's amassed 520 in the first innings, New Zealand had also pinned their hopes on Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder supplying substantial contributions.

But Taylor's usual fluency was absent as he laboured for almost an hour to make four off 30 balls while Ryder was leg before wicket for 21.

James Franklin also fell tamely to Harbhajan's armoury for 14 and when Flynn's stout, 183-ball resistance ended as Gambhir took a bat pad ricochet at short leg, New Zealand were never likely to muster a challenging runchase.

Vettori made no attempt to mask his side's deficiencies.

"We were outplayed in all three facets, in every aspect India showed us how to do it in this test match.

"There are a lot of things we have to improve on. We obviously have to bat longer and then with the ball we have to be consistent in the right areas.

"At times we built pressure for maybe six to 10 balls but after that we let it slip and bowled the boundary ball.

"Against a quality side like India you have to put 30-35 balls in a row to create pressure and give ourselves an opportunity to win."

He was hopeful the batting unit would provide salvation today but it never eventuated.

"We needed someone to fight really hard for us and unfortunately we never had that. Daniel was probably the only one, and Brendon later on. Against a side like India you need guys to bat a day and a half."

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni labelled the victory as "very special".

"Overall it was a good team effort. Test cricket is all about winning session after session and obviously Sachin and Harbhajan performed exceedingly well."

New Zealand have one injury concern with O'Brien suffering a side strain although Vettori is hopeful he will be available when the series moves to Napier for the second test starting on Thursday.

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