Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman survived a testing opening session after India lost Sachin Tendulkar early on the third morning of the second Test against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.

Resuming at a comfortable 178 for two, the hosts added 59 runs in the first session and went to lunch at 237 for the loss of three wickets.

Dravid was batting on 33 along with Laxman (31). Locals filled the stands in anticipation that Tendulkar would get to the coveted landmark of scoring his 50th Test century, but their hopes were dashed when New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori had the champion batsman caught at first slip by Ross Taylor in only the day's fifth over.

After a 20-minute stay during which he survived a run-out scare and some uneasy moments, Tendulkar rushed down the track without getting to the line of a delivery that turned away after pitching on the leg stump.

The last-minute slog took the edge and Taylor stretched to his right to complete a fine one-handed catch, much to the delight of the visitors.

Local boy Laxman, playing his maiden Test in his hometown during a 14-year-long career, joined Dravid and the two ensured that India don't let go of the advantage, which Virender Sehwag gave them with his blistering batting on Saturday.

Buoyed by the local support, Laxman started with a bang, punching Chris Martin through the covers for a boundary. Martin then tried to unnerve Laxman with a short one but the stylish Hyderabadi was equal to task and pulled it over midwicket for a four forcing the New Zealand captain to replace the bowler with Tim Southee.

Dravid, at the other end, was biding his time and waited for the bad deliveries. While there weren't many bad ones on offer, but Dravid was quick to latch on to a bouncer from Southee.

The Karnataka player rolled his wrists on it and managed to send the ball to the boundary through a packed on-side field that had a short leg, short square-leg and short midwicket.

Laxman, meanwhile, flicked Southee to the boundary and then whipped a Vettori delivery off his pads for same result.