Fighting draw puts Aussies back on their feet

By lunch the result of the third Test match between India and Australia was known to everyone at the Ferozeshah Kotla. India had lost two wickets — Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir — in the first session on day five, and that put any chance of an unlikely declaration out of the question.

And the fact that only two wickets had fallen in that first session meant Australia couldn’t seize the initiative and push for an outside chance of victory as VVS Laxman (59 not out) and Sourav Ganguly (32 not out) got together to put on an entertaining partnership that provided some cheer after Anil Kumble’s dramatic announcement.

India declared their second innings closed at 208 for five after tea, setting Australia an improbable target of 245 runs in 23 overs.

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The visitors were 31 for no loss in their second innings when the match was called off as a draw.

Earlier, Brett Lee showed sparks of his old form as he forced Rahul Dravid to play onto the stumps for 11 to reduce India to 53 for three. However, Laxman and Ganguly put on 63 with Ganguly for the unbroken sixth wicket to push the game towards a draw.

The result will please Australia no end, as they go to Nagpur with their hopes of drawing the series alive.