AHMEDABAD, Nov 8 (PTI): India found an unlikely batting hero in tailender Harbhajan Singh who produced a match-saving maiden Test century to steer his team to safety alongwith VVS Laxman as the first cricket Test against New Zealand ended in a draw here today.
The gutsy Harbhajan (115) notched up his only first class century and combined with veteran Laxman (91) as the duo dented New Zealand�s push for victory with a solid 163-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Resuming their second innings at a precarious 82 for six, Laxman and Harbhajan saved India the blushes by batting cautiously before the innings folded up for 266 shortly after the tea break for an overall lead of 294.
The Kiwis were 22 for one in their second innings before both captains decided to call off play. Zaheer Khan removed opener Tim McIntosh for a duck but Brendon McCummum (11) and Bradley-John Watling (2) ensured there were no further setbacks for the visitors who will take a great deal of confidence from their performance here.
The two teams will now travel to Hyderabad for the second Test to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium from November 12 to 16.
It was Harbhajan who stole the spotlight on the final day�s play and had it not been for his valiant batting effort, the story could have been quite different for the home team.
Harbhajan, who made his highest score of 69 in the first innings, achieved his dream of scoring a century in Test cricket. His 115 came off 193 balls and contained 13 boundaries and three sixes.
Harbhajan reached his maiden hundred in style with a six off Vettori and held his bat aloft to reciprocate the applause of his teammates in the dressing room.
The stylish Laxman, who has bailed India out of many a crisis, was a picture of poise and concentration as he held the innings together and kept guiding Harbhajan.
Laxman was wrongly given out leg before wicket to rival team captain Daniel Vettori by umpire Steve Davis as TV replays showed the ball had deflected on to the pad off the inside edge of the bat.
Laxman and Harbhajan took India from a difficult 65 for six last evening at the fall of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni�s wicket and were not separated till close to the
tea interval when Vettori won the verdict against the former. The duo was together for 10 minutes under four hours and faced 328 balls.
Vettori also sent back Zaheer Khan off the next ball, to another questionable decision by the same umpire as the bat and pad were close together when the ball hit its target, to be on a hat-trick which was staved off by Ojha.
Earlier, Laxman and Harbhajan made sure that India did not lose a wicket in the pre-lunch period of play by mixing caution and aggression.
Starting the day at 82 for 6, the seventh wicket duo steadily re-built the home team�s second innings that was left in tatters at 15 for 5 on the fourth evening by the tall Chris Martin�s brilliant swing bowling.
But the 35-year-old bowler did not get the same sort of movement today and was played out quite comfortably by the two batsmen.
Harbhajan was the aggressor complementing Laxman�s vigilant stay as the hosts made 164 for 6 to be ahead by 192 runs at the lunch break.
The duo, especially Harbhajan, were in a more aggressive mood in the post-lunch period as they raised 200 of the innings in the 11th over after resumption with the off spinner on 85 compared to Laxman�s 74.
Harbhajan was fortunate to be dropped by wrecker-in-chief Chris Martin off his own bowling when seven short of the coveted threefigure mark when the batsman tried to flick and offered a difficult return catch.
Zaheer Khan fell off the first ball but Ojha prevented Vettori from achieving a hat-trick.
Harbhajan flat-batted, swept, drove on the up and swung his way second half century of the match with a couple off wrecker-in-chief Chris Martin after Laxman had completed his a few minutes earlier.
While Laxman�s 27th half century came in a little over 240 minutes and off 154 balls when he pull-swept Jeetan Patel for his first boundary and fourth of the knock, Harbhajan�s contained 5 fours and a six and took him only 106 minutes and 78 balls to compile.
SCORECARD
India 1st innings: 487
New Zealand 1st innings : 459
India 2nd innings: (overnight 82-6)
Gambhir c Hopkins b Martin 0, Sehwag run out 1, Dravid c Hopkins b Martin 1, Tendulkar b Martin 12, Laxman lbw b Vettori 91, Raina c Taylor b Martin 0, Dhoni b Martin 22, Harbhajan c Watling b Taylor 115, Zaheer lbw b Vettori 0, Ojha not out 9, Sreesanth c Hopkins b Taylor 4. Extras: (B-10, NB-1) 11. Total: (all out in 102.4 overs) 266. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-2, 4-15, 5-15, 6-65, 7-228, 8-228, 9-260. Bowling: Martin 27-8-63-5, Vettori 38-8-81-2, Patel 23-1-72-0, Williamson 4-0-18-0, Taylor 4.4-2-4-2, McCullum 6-1-18-0.
New Zealand 2nd innings: McIntosh lbw b Khan 0, McCullum not out 11, Watling not out 2. Extras: (B-4, WD-5) 9. Total: (for one wicket in 10 overs) 22. Fall of wicket: 1-4. Bowling: Zaheer 4-2-7-1, Sreesanth 1-0-4-0, P Ojha 3-2-1-0, Raina 1-0-1-0, Dhoni 1-0-5-0.
