Match ends in draw, India draw Test series for 1st time in SA

Cape Town, Jan 6 (PTI) Set a daunting target of 340 for a
win, India opted to play safe and bat their way to a draw in
the third and final cricket Test against South Africa to end
the high-profile series 1-1 here on Thursday.
The Indians never made an effort to chase down the stiff
target and the batsmen played out time to crawl to 166 for
three in their second innings before play was called off to
mark the end of a fascinating three-match series.
Although the Indians could not achieve their dream of a
maiden away series win over South Africa, it was a creditable
achievement for the visitors as they drew a Test series for
the first time on the African soil. The result also meant that
India maintained their number one ranking.
The visitors lost the first Test in Centurion by an
innings and 25 runs but showed great character to bounce back
and win the second Test in Durban by 87 runs.
The Indians could have entertained hopes of going for the
target had Virender Sehwag (11) fired but the dashing opener
fell cheaply to end the series without too may runs to his
credit.
Gautam Gambhir defied an elbow injury and played a
resolute knock of 64 to be the highest scorer in the second
innings. Sachin Tendulkar (14) and VVS Laxman (32) were at the
crease when play was called off after 82 overs.
The engrossing series between the the two top ranked
teams in the world will be remembered for Tendulkar's historic
50th Test century and the batting heroics of Jacques Kallis
who scored three centuries.
Faced with the stiff target, the two Indian openers
Gambhir and Sehwag adopted a cautious approach and were more
content in playing out the new ball without taking too many
risks.
Both the South African pacemen Dale Steyn and Morne
Morkel got some movement and bounce from the fifth day track
at the Newlands. Some of the balls rose alarmingly but the two
batsmen managed to get themselves out of the way.
In the very second over, Gambhir needed some on-field
treatment after being hit by Morkel's first delivery. The ball
bounced sharply outside off stump and hit him on the elbow.
Both Sehwag and Gambhir were prompt to despatch the loose
deliveries to the boundary, both Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe
being given that treatment.