Jesse Ryder combined well with debutant Kane Williamson to lead New Zealand’s fightback against India as the visitors reached 237 for four at tea on day three of the first cricket Test in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The duo denied India any breakthrough in the second session as they stitched a 100-run stand for the fifth wicket after the Black Caps had lost key wickets of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in the morning session.

McCullum made 65 with eleven fours while Taylor scored 56 with five.

Ryder was unbeaten on 53 after facing 108 balls, having hit six boundaries while Williamson was batting on 45 with four shots to the fence.

Indian bowlers, who looked dominating in the morning session, struggled as both the batsmen mostly played with a straight bat and chose only loose balls to attack.

The Kiwi duo responded to the SOS call and showed a lot of determination in their side’s cause.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni tried every tactic and even handed the ball to part-timers Virender Sehwag, Suresh Raina and even to Sachin Tendulkar but the breakthrough never came.

But Ryder and Williamson were hardly troubled by the Indian bowling attack on the slow pitch as they steadily built up their fourth-wicket partnership after coming together in the opening session.

The duo added 48 runs in 13 overs in the first hour of the second session and brought up the 200 of the innings in 79 overs by going neck-to-neck.

Brief scores:

India 1st innings : 487

New Zealand 1st innings : 237 for four in 82 overs (Jesse Ryder batting 53, Kane Williamson batting 45, Ross Taylor 56, Brendon McCullum 65; Pragyan Ojha 2/41).