MOHALI. India. Oct 10: New Zealand seamer Dion Nash grabbed a career-best six for l—— i 27 as shell-shock-

ed India caved in for 83 on the opening day of the first cricket Test here today, reports AFP.

Chris Cairns chipped in with 2-23 and left-armer Shayne O'Connor claimed 2-20 as the Indians, sent to bat on a damp seaming wicket, were shot out in 27 overs.

The Kiwis, who have won just two of their previous 21 Tests in India, consolidated further by reaching 119 for three when stumps were drawn on an action-packed day’s cricket.

New Zealand lost both openers for eight runs, before Craig Spearman and skipper Stephen Fleming added 91 for the third wicket to take the visitors to a commanding position.

Spearman had made 51 when he lobbed a full toss from Anil Kumble back to the bowler. At stumps. Fleming was batting on 38. while Nathan Astle was on 12.

The Indians, who have not lost a Test series at home since 1987. were clearly not prepared for the five-day game after a spate of limited-overs outings over the last one month.

Newly-appointed coach Kapil Dev and captain Sachin Tendulkar watched in frustration as eight batsmen failed to reach double figures — five of them for zero.

Tailender Javagal Srinath was the team's main contributor with 20, followed by 19 extras and Tendulkar’s 18 in conditions ideal for the New Zealand seamers.

Fleming's bold decision to field first after a delayed start of 45 minutes because of the dew-laden wicket, paid off handsomely as India were reduced to 42 for seven by lunch.

Nash, whose previous best was six for 76 against England at Lord's in 1994. teamed up with Cairns to take the first five wickets within eight overs from the start.

O'Connor, the left-arm seamer, caused further havoc by removing Tendulkar and Sunil Joshi off successive balls to make India 38 for seven.

India touched it’s lowest ever Test score — 42 against England at Lord's in 1974 — off the last ball before lunch when Anil Kumble steered O'Connor for a boundary.

Nash began the destruction in the day's second over when he bowled left-hander Sada-gopan Ramesh for no score.

New batsman Rahul Dravid took a single before edging Cairns to second slip where Astle took a low catch to his right.

Opener Devang Gandhi, one

of the three debutants in the home team aiongwtih allrounder Vijay Bharadwaj and wicketkeeper Mannava Prasad, also failed to open his account.

Nash, working up a tidy pace, had Gandhi caught behind by Adam Parore before forcing Saurav Ganguly to edge an inswinger onto his stumps.

Bharadwaj, selected ahead to Ajay Jadeja- then offered a tame catch to Parore off Cairns to make India 22 for five.

Dion Nash. Daniel Vettori. Shayne O'Connor.

Umpires: Srivinas Venka-taraghavan (India) and Peter Manuel (Sri Lanka).

The last three Indian wickets added 41 runs after lunch before Nash polished off the tail midway through the afternoon session.

Mannava Prasad showed better judgement than his senior colleagues by making 16 not out.

Srinath dealt two quick blows but as the wicket eased under the sun. Spearman and Fleming found the Indian bowlers easier to handle.

To bat:' Craig McMillan. Chris Cairns. Adam Parore.