Cricket: Ryder ton leads fightback

Comeback king Jesse Ryder and rookie Kane Williamson led a disciplined batting effort which served New Zealand's purposes perfectly well as they prospered at a sedate rate in the third cricket test against India here today.

The tourists lost just three wickets on the third day while adding 262 runs, thanks to Ryder's 103 and an unbeaten 87 from Williamson on debut.

Their efforts were complemented by half-centuries to Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor among a batting lineup under severe pressure due to past shortcomings.

Responding to India's first innings of 487, the tourists were in danger of folding quietly when they slumped to 137 for four before lunch at Sardar Patel Stadium but a revival was launched from two middle order batsmen with particular points to make.

Williamson illustrated why he has attracted such positive press in making a most mature contribution as he joined Ryder in a record fifth wicket stand that realised 194 runs.

It bettered the 142 put on by Taylor and James Franklin against India in Wellington in March last year.

In his first test appearance in 15 months due to a succession of injuries, Ryder hit 10 fours and one six in 301 minutes following a shaky start when he survived a chance on 11 before finding his timing as he and Williamson resuscitated the tourists.

He raised his third test century, all of them against India, in the final over of the day before being trapped leg before wicket two balls later by fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth.

Ryder required a runner when he hurt himself when on 43, but it did not appear to limit his range of strokes as he managed to bludgeon a short ball from fast bowler Zaheer Khan to the mid wicket fence.

He later lifted left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for four in a similar direction, celebrating by running halfway down the pitch before realising he was supposed to stay crease-bound.

Williamson, just 20, was a picture of composure from the time he strode to the middle, making light of the occasion as he showed an organised mental game and a stroke range to suit.

He is now within range of scoring a century on debut, a feat only seven New Zealanders have managed, after a consummate display of level headedness and an eye for a gap.

The tourists did get bogged down at times as the Indian bowlers adopted negative leg side tactics to apply pressure, but they refused to try to break the shackles by flamboyant means, answering coach Mark Greatbatch's pre-match exhortations for application and concentration.

On that score the New Zealand team could hardly be faulted even if progress was painfully slow at times.

After resuming this morning at 69 for two, New Zealand made pleasing progress through new opener McCullum and vice-captain Taylor, who made 65 and 56, respectively, before both departed in the space of three overs late in the morning session.

They put on a stand of 104 for the third wicket, keeping the Indians at bay until Taylor mistimed a drive off offspinner Harbhajan Singh to provide VVS Laxman with a catch at short mid wicket.

McCullum soon joined him, after being beaten in the air by Ojha before wicketkeeper MS Dhoni completed a smart stumping.

SCOREBOARD
India - First innings 487

New Zealand
First innings (overnight 69-2)
T McIntosh c Dhoni b Khan 0
B McCullum st Dhoni b Ojha 65
BJ Watling b Ojha 6
R Taylor c Laxman b Singh 56
J Ryder lbw b Sreesanth 103
K Williamson not out 87
Extras (1b, 9lb, 4nb) 14
Total (for 4 wkts, 117.3 overs) 331
Fall: 8 (McIntosh), 27 (Watling), 131 (Taylor), 137 (McCullum).

Bowling: Z Khan 19-6-38-1, S Sreesanth 17.3-1-70-1 (4nb), P Ojha 38-8-90-2, H Singh 34-7-90-1, V Sehwag 1-0-7-0, S Raina 6-0-20-0, S Tendulkar 2-0-16-0.

- NZPA