India’s spin bowlers rocked the South African top order and pace bowler Makhaya Ntini claimed three quick wickets on Wednesday before the series opener meandered to a tame draw.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik claimed two wickets each as South Africa compiled 169 for four before the umpires called an end to the fifth day’s play in the first Test of the two-match series.
South Africa had secured a 44-run lead in the first innings as Ntini returned figures of three for 135 by dismissing Rahul Dravid (54), Anil Kumble (9) and V Laxman (9) in quick succession to bowl India out for 466.
The tourists scored 510 for nine declared in the first outing.
South African opening batsman Andrew Hall (26), Martin van Jaarsveld (13), skipper Graeme Smith (47) and Jacques Rudolph (2) all fell while trying to overcome their unfamiliarity with India’s dusty, low-bounce pitches.
Jacques Kallis then scored 28 not out and shared an unbroken 54-run partnership with Boeta Dippenaar, who was unbeaten on 31 when the match ended after just four of the 15 mandatory overs in the final hour were bowled.
Hall, who scored a valiant century in the first innings, shared a confident 67-run opening stand with Smith before nicking Singh to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, who went on to snap Rudolph for an identical dismissal.
Kartik trapped Martin van Jaarsveld lbw before inducing Smith to offer a catch to Gautam Gambhir at short-leg.
Singh finished with a haul of two for 39, while Kartik posted figures of two for 17.
Top-scorer Smith struck seven boundaries off 100 deliveries during his 141-minute knock.
Kallis hit just two boundaries off 112 deliveries after two hours of stonewalling, while vice-captain Dippenaar’s 92-minute knock had four boundaries from 80 balls.
India lost six wickets on the fifth day while adding 65 runs to the overnight score of 401 for four. Four Indian batsmen fell in the day’s first six overs as fast bowler Shaun Pollock removed Karthik for one after Ntini’s early strike.
Dravid and Kumble were snapped by wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile and Ntini rattled Laxman’s stumps to thwart India’s hopes of taking the lead. Karthik fell lbw to Pollock, who finished with two for 100.
The ninth-wicket pair of Singh (17) and Zaheer Khan (30) indulged in some big hitting to add 36 runs before left-arm spinner Robin Peterson had Singh caught by Dippenaar for his lone success of the innings.
A planned early start — to accommodate 30 minutes of extra play — failed due to the wet outfield caused by heavy dew. On the previous two days the start was delayed by fog. – Sapa-AP