New Zealand 87-4 at lunch on day 3 vs. India

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Senior fast bowler Zaheer Khan took 3-28 as India restricted New Zealand to 87-4 at lunch Sunday on the third day of the second cricket test, moving closer to a win that would level the two-match series between the teams.

The 35-year-old Khan, playing in his 92nd career test, dismissed opener Peter Fulton before stumps on Saturday and removed Hamish Rutherford (35) and Kane Williamson (7) in the morning session Sunday, leaving New Zealand still 159 runs behind India in the second innings.

India reached 438 in its first innings to take a 246-run lead. The loss of early wickets on the third day severely damaged New Zealand's chances of saving the match and winning a series it leads 1-0 after taking the first test at Auckland by 40 runs.

Both of Khan's victims on Sunday fell to catches by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. Williamson was a key wicket as he is New Zealand's best batsman in the absence of Ross Taylor, whose wife gave birth Saturday to their second child.

India made one error in the morning session, however, when New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was dropped by Virat Kohli at silly mid-on from the bowling of Mohammed Shami.

McCullum was only 9 and New Zealand was 78-3 when Kohli dropped a catch that almost certainly would have snuffed out New Zealand's hopes of turning the match around. McCullum had been key to the hosts' victory in the first test at Eden Park, making a double century.

He was 14 not out at lunch, taking a laborious 82 minutes and 59 balls to score those runs.

Tom Latham was out for 29 to the last ball before the break.