India win series 1-0 as rain ruins final Test

07-04-09 India recorded their first series triumph on New Zealand soil in 41 years though rain denied them a deserving victory in the third Test here on Tuesday.

Rain played spoilsport in India's push for a 2-0 series win on the fifth and final day and the hosts escaped with a draw after they were down 281 for eight in the post-lunch session in chase of a near impossible 617 for a win.

The visitors will have to be content with a 1-0 victory in the three-match Test series after India won the first match in Hamilton by 10 wickets and drawing the second in Napier.

Despite the draw on Tuesday, India ended their long wait of 41 years to win a Test series in New Zealand after Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi-led side drubbed the Kiwis 3-1 in 1968.

The Indians, who outplayed the Kiwis throughout the match, were well on course for a victory by conjuring up four wickets in just over a session before light rain stopped play 30 minutes into post lunch session. Daniel Vettori on 15 was at the crease at that time along with Iain O'Brien (19).

There was a glimmer of hope for India recording their 100th Test victory as covers were taken off for a short while to resume the post-lunch session half an hour after stoppage.

That hope disappeared as rain returned immediately and light shower turned into heavy downpour. The match was finally called off at 1015 hrs IST, nearly one and half hours before scheduled close.

Zaheer Khan, who took five wickets in Kiwi first innings, ended the Test with figures of seven for 122 while Harbhajan Singh, with his 4/59 in New Zealand second essay, had match figures of seven for 102.

India claimed three wickets in the morning session after being frustrated for more than one hour by Ross Taylor (107) and James Franklin (49) who stitched a 142-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

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