At Christchurch, March 6, 7, 8, 10, 11. Drawn. With more than thirteen hours claimed by bad light or rain, the match never really took shape or form although there was scope for personal glory. Hadlee was again in the limelight, taking five for 47 as India declined from a good start, and Reid played a prominent part with 123 in seven hours twenty-six minutes, a dour, unspectacular effort but one without which New Zealand's innings might have faltered.

Gavaskar, fortunate to survive an appeal for a catch at the wicket off Hadlee when 14, and Chauhan started India off with a partnership of 114. Chauhan, still without a Test hundred after 58 innings, was unlucky in that play was stopped for bad light immediately he was out, though by way of some consolation he was named as India's Man of the Match. Only forty-nine minutes of play were possible on the second day when, anticipating stoppages, Vengsarkar and Viswanath batted grimly, adding 6 runs in this time. The third day was entirely washed out, and the provision for the rest day to be used in the event of a full day being lost was of no avail. It poured down on that day as well.

The contest was resumed after half an hour's delay on the fourth day. India reached 200 without further loss, but the new ball caused havoc, with Hadlee taking three wickets in as many overs. After all the rain, the pitch was lively during the morning but it became progressively easier after lunch, Wright's being the only wicket India captured before the end of the day. On the last day, the overnight partnership between Edgar and Reid - New Zealand's Man of the Match - grew into a century stand. The contest between the batsmen and India's spinners, Doshi and Shastri, was keen but academic, the outcome of the match already being a foregone conclusion.