New Delhi, Aug 12: A splendid century from Rahul Dravid and a 99 by Sourav Ganguly helped India force a well-earned draw in the 2nd Test against England at Trent Bridge on Monday.

Resuming from their overnight score of 99/2, India finished with 424/8 when stumps were drawn. India made 357 in the first innings while England replied with a mammoth 617 with Michael Vaughan hitting a career best 197. Sachin Tendulkar continuing from his overnight score of 56 (56 balls) was tested in the morning session by deliveries aimed at the rib cage and the jugular. But the Master Blaster continued to flay the English attack with forceful drives and cuts. Dominic Cork was hit by Sachin for three consecutive boundaries at mid-off, point and square leg.

Tendulkar batting on 92 (113 balls; 17 boundaries) looked set for his 30th test hundred when in a rush of blood he tried to play a flashy cut short to off spinner Michael Vaughan only to see the ball crash into the stumps. Once again Sachin had been dismissed by an off spinner, lost an opportunity to go ahead of Sir Don Bradman and got out when he should have seen India through.

Sachin’s dismissal brought the Indian skipper to the middle. Ganguly looked in fine nick from the start and along with Dravid avoided any more hiccups for India.

Just after lunch, Dravid batting on 73 was lucky to survive a strong appeal for caught behind when he seemed to have edged a Hoggard delivery. Umpire Tiffen negated the appeal, though replays suggested that Dravid might just have edged the ball.

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Ganguly on the other end reached a well-timed 50 off 65 balls with nine hits to the fence. Soon after India rubbed off the deficit and was now in the front.

With the pressure notably lessened, Dravid got his 11th test hundred by running for three runs. Just before tea, Dravid batting on 115 (244 balls; 16 fours) was trapped leg before wicket by Cork with the score reading 309/4. At tea India were 314/4 with Ganguly batting superbly on 81 and Laxman playing on 2. India enjoyed a lead of 55 runs.

The post tea session saw Ganguly and Laxman playing with a fair degree of comfort before Laxman played a silly shot to be dismissed for 14 (33 balls). Laxman was caught at the mid-wicket fence when trying to pull a ball that pitched on the middle and the leg. Hussain should be merited for this dismissal as he had set up the batsman for this particular shot and Laxman fell for the trap.

Laxman’s dismissal brought Ajit Agarkar to the middle. The newly discovered all-rounder spanked Cork for three boundaries through covers, then through third man and then past point to liven proceedings and take away some pressure from Ganguly at the other end.

There was yet another twist in the tale, a rather dramatic one as Ganguly one short of hundred was clean bowled. The Indian skipper looking for a single to bring up his century was bowled off an inside edge to a Harmison delivery. Ganguly made 99 from 159 balls comprising 13 hits to the fence.

With the score reading 378/6, young Parthiv Patel facing a pair walked in to keep company with Ajit Agarkar batting merrily on 29 off 23 balls with six hits to the fence.

Vaughan who had earlier got rid of Tendulkar trapped Agarkar leg before for 32 and a few balls later Harbhajan was clean bowled for 1 by Harmison. England still had an outside chance with the Indian score reading 396/8, an overall lead of 136 runs.

Parthiv Patel showed good temperament in remaining undefeated on 19, while Zaheer was unbeaten on 14.

Man of the match: Michael Vaughan Bureau Report