Ravindra Jadeja's three-wicket burst piles pressure on New Zealand at tea on Day One, 3rd Test

Ravindra Jeja spearheed India's charge back into contest with three wickets as New Zealand stumbled to 192 for six at tea on opening day of third and final Test here on Friday.

Jeja (3/53) broke a stubborn 87-run fourth wicket stand between Will Young (71) and Daryl Mitchell (53 not out), while also accounting for Tom Blundell (0) and Glenn Phillips (17) to help India keep visitors in check.

Jeja’s effort was a reward for toil that home team bowlers put in for a large part of second session, with Young and Mitchell forging a sturdy stand.

At tea, burly Mitchell was batting on 53 off 96 balls with three fours having thoroughly struggled in heat and humidity to score his first fifty of tour. He was accompanied by Ish Sodhi (1 not out).

If India h momentum swinging ir way with spinners Washington Sundar (2/50) and Jeja coming to fore towards end of morning session, it appeared lost due to break as New Zealand resumed formidably.

Both Young and Mitchell blunted out Indian spin threat with consummate ease, sweep and reverse sweep being ir go-to weapons as two right-handers put home team bowlers to a stern test once again.

Young continued his flourish as he brought up his fifty with a six off Washington to make stey progress, until Jeja ended his stey march towards a possible triple figure score.

As both teams reeled under baking sun with humidity perhaps draining more out of players than heat, it was only a matter of time to see how long visitors could maintain ir resistance in such testing conditions.

Young, who hn’t kept a foot wrong since his arrival in middle showing attractive range of strokes combined with resolute defence, saw his innings end when Jeja got one to spin away from his forward defence with ball settling into Rohit Sharma ’s hands at first slip.

With his tails up, Jeja showed glimpses of finding his best as he cleaned up Blundell for a three-ball duck, hitting timber by getting one to turn away from his defensive bat.

Phillips, who played for turn with Jeja's delivery angling in, was cleaned up too.

With his three-wicket burst, Jeja moved up to fifth spot in list of highest wicket-takers for India in Tests, leapfrogging former pace bowling teammates Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, with 312 wickets.

Mitchell battled hard against both Indian bowlers and wear since he appeared to be struggling most with conditions. In a session infused with frequent drink breaks for all players, Mitchell rarely missed an opportunity to consume fluids and even laid flat on his back.