Jaffer hits maiden century as England and India battle to a draw

CRICKET: Indian opener Wasim Jaffer celebrated his comeback Sunday with a maiden Test century as the first Test against England ended in a hard-fought draw after a thrilling finale.

Jaffer's steady innings and a resolute 71 from skipper Rahul Dravid provided little clue that India were considering a last-minute dash for the unlikely 368-run target set by England.

Any thought of pushing for victory had seemed to evaporate early in the day when England's first innings bowling hero Matthew Hoggard dismissed hard-hitting opener Virender Sehwag for a duck with one that jagged back into his stumps.

Jaffer, returning to the team after three years, scored exactly 100 to go with his 81 in the first innings. He put on 167 for the second wicket with Dravid to all but end England's hopes of a win.

It was after the loss of Jaffer and Dravid in the final session that things really got interesting as India, with wickets in hand, set about chasing eight or nine runs an over off the last 20.

India's decision to promote aggressive Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Dhoni ahead of star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Venkatsai Laxman almost paid off when the pair produced a flurry of boundaries.

Late wickets from England captain Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison turned the tables yet again. When Harmison bowled big-hitting Harbhajan Singh - also promoted up the Indian order - it was England who were suddenly anticipating victory, with four wickets to go.

However, when Laxman made it to the middle, the Indians decided it was too risky for any more heroics and accepted the umpires' offer of bad light.

Pathan had hit a 25-ball 35 while Tendulkar was unbeaten on 28 as India ended on 260-6, 108 runs adrift of the England target with 11.4 overs remaining.

Injury-hit England go into the second Test at Mohali on Thursday with heads high as they managed to carve out of a winning opportunity without three of their key players - Michael Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick and Simon Jones.

The tourists needed a couple of early wickets to put pressure on India, but could grab just one in two sessions on a pitch which was good for batting even on the last day.

Hoggard, who grabbed six scalps in the first innings, again looked the most dangerous bowler early on as he tested both Jaffer and Dravid in a disciplined seven-over opening spell.

With the pitch offering no help to England pacemen or spinners, India overcame the early loss of Sehwag as Jaffer and Dravid dug themselves in to keep the attack at bay.

Earlier in the day India had made no attempt to chase what would have been a record winning target.

NAGPUR, India Sunday