First Test ends in a draw

AHMEDABAD - The first cricket Test match between India and New Zealand ended in a draw here Monday. Bowling out India for 266 in the second innings shortly after tea on the fifth and last day, New Zealand played 10 overs, scoring 22 runs for the loss of one wicket, before the two sides decided to shake hands and call it a day.

Earlier, India, who dominated the first two days of the Test, were struggling to save the match after a five-wicket haul by Chris Martin (5-25) reduced them to 82/6 on the fourth day.

But a maiden century by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (115) on the fifth day and his 163-run seventh wicket stand with V.V.S. Laxman (91) saved the Test for India.

India had posted an imposing 487 run total in the first innings with Virender Sehwag (173) and Rahul Dravid (104) stroking magnificent centuries.

The New Zealand reply was boosted by Jesse Ryder’s third Test century followed by 20-year-old Kane Williamson’s debut Test hundred, which made him the youngest of the Black Caps to achieve this feat. The visitors ended their first innings at 459 conceding a slim 25-run lead to the hosts on the fouth day.

Martin’s ninth five-wicket haul opened up the match and gave New Zealand a realistic chance of pulling off an improbable victory — but for the doughty fightback by Laxman and maiden century by Harbhajan which put paid to the Kiwi aspirations.