India batsmen secure draw

8:26am Tuesday 14th October 2008

Sachin Tendulkar hit a match-saving 49 but fell just short of becoming the most prolific run-scorer in Test cricket as India drew the first game of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia.

The tourists, in their usual indomitable style, had pressed for victory on the final day, declaring their second innings on 228 for six after notching 35 quick runs from five overs in the morning session.

That left India with a target of 299 to achieve an improbable victory in a minimum of 83 overs, and they finished the day on 177 for four.

Brett Lee and Stuart Clark made early breakthroughs for the tourists, but Tendulkar enjoyed half-century partnerships with Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman to halt Australia's charge.

Laxman and Sourav Ganguly were unbeaten on 42 and 26 respectively when play was called off 10 overs early due to bad light.

Tendulkar was out just 15 runs shy of breaking Brian Lara's record of 11,953 runs in Test cricket.

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