Neil Wagner captured four wickets at crucial times as New Zealand held off a counter-attacking India to win the first test at Eden Park by 40 runs after tea on the fourth day on Sunday.

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India had looked favourites to win the match for much of the day before Wagner dismissed Virat Kholi (67) and Shikhar Dhawan (115) after lunch then removed Zaheer Khan (17) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (39) in the evening session when the tourists were in sight of the 407 runs needed for victory.

Dhoni, the architect of a bludgeoning counter attack after his side had been reduced to 270 for six after tea, was the ninth wicket to fall, effectively ending the chase with his side still 44 runs short of their target.

India, who were eventually dismissed for 366, were skittled out for 202 in their first innings, a deficit of 301 runs, but fought back brilliantly with the ball to give themselves a fighting chance of achieving an unlikely victory.