Left-handed opener Tim McIntosh has struck a solid 102 to guide New Zealand to 258 for four on the opening day of the second test against India.

Jesse Ryder on 22 and Gareth Hopkins on nought were the not out batsmen at the close as New Zealand made steady progress through Friday after electing to bat on a good batting pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

India struggled to find breakthroughs with pace bowlers Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan the only ones to trouble the batsmen.

McIntosh faced 254 deliveries, hitting 10 fours and a six during his second century in 15 tests. He was the first Kiwi opener to hit a century away from home in six years.