Cricket: Pair haul NZ back into test

Century maker Jesse Ryder and hugely promising test debutant Kane Williamson put the Black Caps' bungles in Bangladesh behind them with a batting display of competence and grit against India in the first test late last night.

After coming together with New Zealand wobbly at 137 for four, the rookie and his colleague on the comeback trail gave New Zealand the stability they sought.

Williamson was 87 not out in his test debut and Jesse Ryder, continuing his love affair with Indian bowling, was lbw for 103 as the Black Caps reached 331 for five - a partnership of 194, New Zealand's second-highest for the fifth wicket.

It was Ryder's third test century, all scored against India in just four tests - though this was the first in India.

After all the pre-series worries about New Zealand's batting after the woes of Bangladesh, the pair showed commendable application and spirit as India's bowlers probed on a slow pitch, though taking unhelpful spin near the bowlers' footprints.

Much has been made of the Black Caps' need to bat "for time" and they did just that. Ryder's century came off 203 balls, with 10 fours and a six; Williamson's runs from 226 balls with six fours.

Ryder disciplined his naturally free-wheeling style and Williamson looked in little trouble to pace or spin - playing the ball late, as class players often do. Ryder chewed gum through most of his innings, blowing bubbles from time to time - a strange sight seen under a cricket helmet.

Their first milestone saw an unbroken century stand as the tourists began to draw within respectable range of India's first innings of 487. New Zealand were 137 for four when the pair came together just before lunch - and reached tea on the third day at Sardar Patel Stadium on 237 for four, a partnership of exactly 100.

Twenty-year-old Williamson and Ryder collaborated in calm fashion to ease their side out of a tight spot - though not without difficulty.

Ryder was dropped on 11 and needed the assistance of a runner when he'd made 43. He appeared to hurt himself when top edging part-time spinner Sachin Tendulkar into empty space on the leg side.

He went on to continue his rich harvest against India, after scoring a career-best 201 plus another century when they toured New Zealand early last year.

Williamson was unaffected by the occasion, looking in relative comfort during his stay and showing the sort of composure and poise on the big stage that should serve him well.

His first scoring shot after lunch was a back foot drive through the covers for four off Harbhajan Singh when the champion offspinner had five men sniffing around the bat.

He even dealt easily enough with an awkward, seemingly unintentional chest high beamer from fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth.

Williamson was unmoved, immediately clipping Sreesanth off his pads for three through midwicket.

Ryder, on a mission himself in his first test since August last year due to a succession of injuries, took time to find his timing. He toe-ended one ball from Sreesanth on the bounce to slip, then survived that chance on 11 when a wild slash at the same bowler sped to the third man fence after deflecting through the hands of Rahul Dravid at slip.

The left-hander had trouble picking Harbhajan at times and survived a bat-pad appeal on 32. They looked certain to take New Zealand through to the fourth day with six wickets intact but Sreesanth swung the ball almost imperceptibly into Ryder's pads to claim the scalp and end the day's play.

Earlier, resuming on 69 for two New Zealand lost two key wickets late in the morning session when opener Brendon McCullum (65) and vice-captain Ross Taylor (56) departed within the space of 16 balls.