ASTLE: DROUGHT-BREAKER I got out to a ridiculous shot Nathan Astle

Astle, 32, struck 103 to give the tourists a slim chance of saving the match as they finished day three on 282-8 in reply to India's 500-5 declared.

Astle, who was stumped after charging down the pitch to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, said he was disappointed he did not carry New Zealand past the follow-on target of 301.

"I played a good innings but I got out to a ridiculous shot," Astle admitted.

"Especially since I was particularly needed to stay 'til the end.

"We went out there focusing on getting past 300.

"That was the mark for us. I think we did pretty well in the conditions, but we're still not in a very comfortable position."

Astle said the long drought for New Zealand batsmen in India spurred him on.

"We had a meeting before the match, where we realised no New Zealand player had got a hundred in India for more than 25 years," he said.

"That was the motivation for me."

Opener Glenn Turner scored the last century for New Zealand in India, 113 at Kanpur in 1976.

Astle was returning to the side after missing the series in Sri Lanka this April due to knee and hernia operations,

It was a ninth test century for Astle, who shared 91-run stands for the fourth wicket with Scott Styris (34) and the fifth with Craig McMillan (54) after the Kiwis had slumped to 17-3.

"McMillan was playing well," Astle added.

"He was the more dominant partner and took the pressure off me. The Indian team was a little down while we were playing together, but he got out to a great catch. That dismissal was the turning point."

McMillan, also returning to side after being dropped for Sri Lanka due to poor form, got out to a brilliant reflex catch by debutant Aakash Chopra at forward short-leg.

Despite India's strong position, Astle said he thought the Kiwis had a chance to salvage a draw.