Honours shared in Test series

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP:

India kept South Africa at bay on the final day to draw the third Test at Newlands yesterday and share the honours in an enthralling series between cricket's top two Test teams.

Final scores: South Africa 362 and 341, India 364 and 166 for three.

Gautam Gambhir's resolute 64 from 184 balls held India together on a crumbling fifth-day pitch. India stubbornly toiled against an equally determined Proteas battery for 166-3 in their second innings to draw the match - and the series 1-1.

Top-ranked India avoided losing a series in South Africa for the first time in five attempts, although they missed the opportunity for a first-ever series win in the country after holding the advantage in the final match early on day four.

"It was a very interesting series," India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. "I think the batsmen did their job, the bowlers did really well, we just couldn't pull it off when it came to taking that last wicket yesterday.

"At the end of the day we will be happy with our performance. As I always say, we have got a tremendous side. We take pride in performing for India ... there are plenty of positives."

South Africa were 98-5 and then 130-6 on Wednesday, before Jacques Kallis hit his second century of the match to set India an unlikely final-day victory target of 340 to win the Test and series.

Kallis earned the man-of-the-match award for his successive hundreds and the match-turning century late on day four on his home ground, despite painful chest injuries that will keep him out of the one-day series.

"To do it in front of a Newlands crowd is fantastic," Kallis said. "It was an important Test match and we were in a little trouble so it means a lot.

"I'm playing as well as I've ever played. I've worked on my game over the last three or four years ... and hopefully there's more to come."

Man of the series

The allrounder was also voted man of the series. He scored three centuries, including his first double, in five innings, tallied 498 and averaged 166.

After the early loss of attacking opener Virender Sehwag, India defended grimly on Thursday.

The tourists lost just one wicket in each session on day five: Sehwag (11) before lunch, Rahul Dravid (31) in the afternoon and Gambhir after tea.

Sachin Tendulkar was 14 not out in what was expected to be his final Test innings in South Africa, and VVS Laxman was uneaten on 32 at the close.

South Africa seam bowlers Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Dale Steyn claimed one wicket each as South Africa applied pressure, but ultimately failed to rattle the Indians.