"It won't happen again this series," was New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's commitment about the catching in the slips cordon after his side went unpunished for errors by India in the first National Bank Test at Wellington's Basin Reserve today.

Four possible chances went begging, two of them missed, and two, amazingly not attempted.

"Our catching behind the wicket, which is something we pride ourselves on, was very poor today.

"We didn't get hurt, they didn't hurt us. There was probably 20 runs we lost through that but the danger, or risk, of letting opportunities slip, we can't let that happen with a good batting side."

Fleming said each catch missed had its own characteristics and each "had a bit of heat on them" as Shane Bond was getting some good speed on the ball but they were catching mistakes that the side needed to, and would, get rid of.

He was making no excuses for lack of match play being a factor and pointed out that in the games he played with Wellington the side had picked up 17 catches behind the wicket so he had certainly had a good look.

The speed Bond had generated and the fact two were tough chances had been a factor also.

"There are no excuses. It won't happen again and we will get better this series," Fleming said.

While there was bounce in the pitch, Fleming said it was a wicket with good pace which was the way he hoped New Zealand would go in wicket development and he said the Basin Reserve and Eden Park had both been pitches with those qualities.

New Zealand thought at one stage they might be looking to hold India to 150 but Rahul Dravid's class had come through for his side and in the end New Zealand were happy enough with 160.

"I would have liked a little bit less but we will do the work with the bat tomorrow," he said.

The batsmen had to apply themselves on the particular wicket, but they were given a good lesson by Dravid and were keen to attack a little more on the second day.

If the New Zealanders could get some momentum to their game, and get more fieldsmen in front of the wicket that would be a key to survival, he said.

Asked what he thought would be a good score, Fleming said: "800!"

But he added that New Zealand needed to do a lot of batting over the next two days to take advantage of their situation in the match.

© CricInfo