NAGPUR, Mar 5 (BBC): Wasim Jaffer hit a maiden century as the first Test between England and India ended in a thrilling draw. The teams shook hands in Nagpur when the umpires offered the light to the Indian batsmen with the score on 260-6, still 108 short of their target. There had been little sign of what was to come as Jaffer and Rahul Dravid (71) put on 167 in orthodox fashion. But the game burst into life after tea as India added 129 in 22 overs before accepting the task was beyond them. After watching the two teams apparently going through the motions in the first two sessions, the crowd went through an entire range of emotions as the home side took on England's attack. Irfan Pathan smashed 35 off 25 balls and Sachin Tendulkar took three fours off an over from Ian Blackwell with some audacious strokeplay. But the dangerous Mahendra Dhoni failed to sparkle and when he and Harbhajan Singh were dismissed in successive overs from Steve Harmison, India sent out VVS Laxman to shut up shop. Laxman did not have to face a single delivery, however, as the umpires decided the light had faded sufficiently to cause them concern and he and Tendulkar (28 not out) headed for the dressing room. The final day provided a searching examination of Andrew Flintoff's captaincy credentials. And it was clear he still has plenty to learn after being handed the job at short notice following Michael Vaughan's return home because of a knee injury. He failed to vary his tactics during the afternoon session and some of his field placings were questionable as Jaffer and Dravid collected ones, twos and an occasional boundary pretty much as they pleased. England had begun the day by declaring on their overnight score of 297-3, leaving India a remote target of 368, and were given an early boost when Matthew Hoggard's perfect off-cutter knocked back the off stump to remove Virender Sehwag for a duck. Only 23 runs were scored in the first hour and England eventually turned to spin in the hope of a second breakthrough before lunch. Blackwell was unlucky when Dravid, on 17, played a loose shot to an angled delivery and keeper Geraint Jones failed to hang onto a thin edge. Jaffer, meanwhile, was almost run out when substitute fielder Matt Prior's throw just missed the stumps at the bowler's end.
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