Ryder hits third Test ton as New Zealand fight back (Ahmedabad Test highlights)

AHMEDABAD - Batsman Jesse Ryder scored his third Test century and partnered Kane Williamson to register New Zealand’s highest fifth wicket stand against India on the third day of the first cricket Test here Saturday.

The other highlights:

Jesse Ryder (103 off 205 balls) has registered his third hundred in Tests (all against India) - his highest in Tests is 201 against India at Napier last year.

Ryder, during the course of his third Test hundred, has completed his 1000 runs, amassing 1001 at an average of 52.68, including three centuries and four fifties, in 12 games.

Ryder’s outstanding 103 off 205 balls is his first century away from home, bettering the 91 against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2008-09.

Kane Williamson (87 not out) has recorded a half-century - the third best innings by a New Zealander on debut in Tests against India. Bruce Taylor had made a splendid 105 at Kolkata in 1964-65 and Stephen Fleming 92 at Hamilton in 1993-94.

Brendon McCullum’s 17th fifty in Tests is his second half-century against India.

McCullum has performed quite well this year, averaging 75.50 in 2010 - 453 runs in four Tests, including two hundreds and two fifties.

Ross Taylor (56 off 124 balls) has recorded his tenth fifty in Tests - his first against India.

Taylor, in just six innings against India, has amassed 378 runs at an average of 63.00. His tally includes two hundreds and one fifty.

Taylor, for the second time in successive calendar years, has averaged 50 in Tests - 55.85 in 2009 and 50.42 in 2010.

Taylor is all set to complete 2000 runs in Tests - 1997 at an average of 43.41 in 26 Tests.

Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum were involved in a third wicket partnership of 104 - New Zealand’s second highest at Motera, next only to the 121 (unbroken) between Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman in 1999-2000.

John Reid and Bert Sutcliffe had made 222 (unbroken) at Delhi in December 1955 - New Zealand’s all-time highest against India for the third wicket.

Ryder and Williamson were involved in a fifth wicket partnership of 194 - New Zealand’s best against India, surpassing the 142 between James Franklin and Ross Taylor at Wellington last year.

The 194-run fifth-wicket partnership is New Zealand’s second highest, next only to the 222 between Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan against Zimbabwe at Wellington in 2000-01.

The aforesaid partnership is New Zealand’s best for the fifth wicket on foreign soil, eclipsing the 183 between Robert Anderson and Mark Burgess against Pakistan at Lahore in October 1976.