First Test, Ahmedabad (day three, close): India 487 v New Zealand 331-5
Match scorecard

Ryder reached his century before falling to the day's final delivery

Jesse Ryder and newcomer Kane Williamson led a brave New Zealand fightback on day three of the first Test against India in Ahmedabad.

The Kiwis were 137-4 when the pair came together but added 194 to see their side to 331-5 at the close.

Ryder, who was dropped by Rahul Dravid on 11, made 103 before falling to the final ball of the day.

Williamson, 20, ended the day on 87 not out, with his sights set on becoming the eighth Kiwi to hit a debut century.

After totalling 487 all out in their first innings, India had high hopes of running through New Zealand after dismissing Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum in quick succession.

606: DEBATE Ryder has a Test average of over 50 now and another century and double century against India in NZ conditions ASP

Taylor went for 56 when he whipped spinner Harbhajan Singh to mid-wicket and McCullum, on 65, was stumped after overbalancing when a Pragyan Ojha delivery fizzed past the outside edge of his bat as he groped forward.

But Williamson and Ryder - who batted with Taylor as a runner for the latter half of his innings - batted the Black Caps back into the game before Ryder was lbw to Sreesanth from the day's final delivery.

Both players enjoyed some luck with Ryder given a life by Dravid and Williamson fortunate to survive after appearing to edge Zaheer behind on 56.

When the chunky Ryder was 43 not out he was forced to call for Taylor, taking advantage of new rules introduced last month which mean cramp is now a legitimate reason to have a runner.

Ryder swatted the first ball of the day's final over to the cover boundary to bring up his third Test century, but was trapped in front of off stump by Sreesanth two balls later.

"We have not seen a number five and six bat like this in a very long time," McCullum said afterwards.

"Jesse is a professional and a fighter who is capable of getting good scores. Each time he steps out to bat, the team has massive faith in him.

"As for Williamson, in New Zealand you don't see kids come through by the age of 20. So, for him to come out and bat the way he did, it is just incredible."

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