Record-makers Kohli,Rahane hold sway

Indore: India captain Virat Kohli hammered a listless New Zealand attack with a superlative double hundred as the hosts piled up a mammoth 557 for five on the second day of the third Test in Indore, on Sunday.Kohli stroked his way to a career-best 211 and was brilliantly supported by Ajinkya Rahane, who also notched up his highest score of 188 as the home team gained a clear upperhand on a pitch that will only get difficult to bat with passage of time.

At stumps, New Zealand were 28 for no loss with Martin Guptill (17 not out) and Tom Latham (6 not out) at the crease.Kohli struck 20 hits to the fence while Rahane was equally dominant in his innings that was laced with four sixes and 18 boundaries.The duo decimated the New Zealand attack to pile on a huge fourth wicket partnership of 365 -- the highest-ever for India for the fourth wicket against all teams.

When Kohli declared the Indian innings half-an-hour before close, Rohit Sharma (51 not out in 63 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (17 not out) were at the crease after adding a quick-fire 53 runs in 59 balls for the sixth wicket. Rohit cracked his third successive half-century of the series hitting sixes and three fours to score some quick runs at the end.

The day's proceedings belonged almost entirely to Kohli, who surpassed his previous best of 200 against West Indies at North Sound while Rahane eclipsed his previous best of 147 against Australia in Melbourne.It was the second double century by Kohli in the space of six Tests and three months. He is the only Indian to hit two double centuries as a Test captain.

The duo's complete domination of the clueless New Zealand bowling attack enabled India to add 98 runs in 30 overs in the second session after they had added 91 runs in the pre-lunch session after resuming at the overnight 267 for three.Both batsmen exerted complete sway over the visitors' attack and were hardly beaten before they fell early in the post tea session.

They made the visitors chase leather for more than three sessions after joining forces in the post lunch period of play on day one yesterday with the score on 100 for three.When the partnership was broken by off-spinner Jeetan Patel, who trapped Kohli leg before the wicket as he tried to flick in the first over after tea, the Indian score had advanced to 465 and the stand had consumed nine minutes under eight hours and lasted 673 balls. Kohli, himself, had spent a total of 539 minutes at the crease to put his team in a commanding position on the second day.

The duo also eclipsed the previous fourth wicket Indian record of 353 by Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman compiled against Australia at Sydney in January 2004.Rohit also continued his good form in the series, hitting a brisk 51, while Jadeja made 17 not out.

nterestingly, India were handed a five-run penalty after Jadeja was penalised after two warnings for running on the pitch while batting out in the middle.Guptill and Latham managed to see off the nine overs bowled by the Indians before stumps without any dramas.