McKenzie century ensures South Africa secure draw in first Test

Stumps were called early on the final day, after South Africa declared its second innings at 331-5, with both teams accepting the draw that had long seemed inevitable after massive first innings totals on a lifeless pitch.

Only 25 wickets fell across five days, with 1,498 runs scored.

McKenzie scored an unbeaten 155 and Hashim Amla made 81 in South Africa's second innings. McKenzie struck 13 fours and one six off 339 deliveries in registering the fourth century of his 45-test career, making up for the disappointment of falling six short of a century in the first innings.

Making a comeback after four years out of the test side, McKenzie slammed a double century in his previous test against Bangladesh when he featured in a world record opening stand of 415 with Graeme Smith.

Amla looked capable of becoming the fifth South African to score a century in each inning of a test before edging India skipper Anil Kumble's delivery into the hands of Rahul Dravid at slip. Amla failed to read an away drifting ball to end his 3-1/2 hour knock and the second-wicket partnership of 157 with McKenzie.

Amla, who scored 159 in the first innings, benefited from two dropped catches but failed to convert the chances into a century that would have made him only the second South Africa - after India's current coach Gary Kirsten - to have scored centuries in either innings of a test against India.

Amla struck nine boundaries off 148 deliveries, watching Shantakumaran Sreesanth spill a catch at fine leg off Harbhajan Singh when on 55, and then got a reprieve as Rudra Pratap Singh failed to hold on to return catch on 72.

India spinner Harbhajan Singh (3-101) snared Jacques Kallis (19) and Ashwell Prince (5) in the afternoon session, while A.B. de Villiers (11) fell to part-time spinner Virender Sehwag, whose 319 in the first innings broke the record for the highest score by an India player, and also secured him the man of the match award.

"It was a good Test for me," said Sehwag, who became only the third batsman in test history to score more than 300 twice. Only Don Bradman of Australia and West Indian Brian Lara have attained the feat earlier.

Sehwag's knock, the highest by an Indian in tests, surpassed his own 309 that he made against Pakistan at Multan in 2004.

Rival captains Kumble and Greame Smith complimented Sehwag. "The way Sehwag batted, it was no surprise he did most of scoring," said Kumble, while Smith termed it a "tremendous knock."

Kumble said the conditions were extremely tough for the bowlers with the flat track and the heat.

"We expected the wicket to deteriorate and expected it to have some more pace," said Kumble. "I suppose the rain in the week ahead of the test match hampered the preparations," he said. Smith said he was pleased at the effort put in by his team.

"We've got some really good cricket under out belt, our batsmen had a good test and I'm pretty comfortable with the way we bowled," said Smith.

"Our bowlers have immense talent and they're learning to bowl in different conditions," he said.

In a test where the only interest lay in personal milestones, Rahul Dravid also became just the sixth player to pass 10,000 career test runs.

The second test of the three-match series begins at Ahmadabad on April 3.