Ahmedabad, Oct 12: Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle upset India`s applecart with gritty unbeaten knocks as the first cricket Test ended in a tame draw on the fifth and final day here today. New Zealand were 272 for six when play was called off by mutual consent of both the captains about 10 minutes before scheduled close.
All the good work of India was reduced to a naught by the duo who put on 103 runs for the seventh wicket to salvage a draw for their team which had been on the backfoot for most part of the match.
It was a frustrating outcome for India who looked very much in sight of a win when they had reduced New Zealand to 169 for six by tea today.
But the Kiwis showed remarkable character and resilience, epitomised by McMillan (83) and Astle (51), to fight back and deny India a victory.
While New Zealand would now go into the second and final test starting in Mohali on October 16 with a positive frame of mind, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly would be worried by the fact that his bowlers could not finish off New Zealand`s second innings in more than three full sessions of play. Brief scores: India: 500 for 5 declared and 209 for six declared
New Zealand: 340 and 272 for 6 in 107 overs (McMillan 83 not out, Astle 51 not out, Vincent 67; Kumble 4/95, Harbhajan 2/65). Bureau Report