India recorded their first series triumph on New Zealand soil in 41 years though rain denied them a deserving victory in the third Test 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, 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.
India 288 for 9 (Ganguly 87, Laxman 50, Morkel 3-57, Steyn 3-60) lead South Africa 265 by 23 runs
For the first time in the current series, India has taken a lead, though a slender one. In the third and final Test against South Africa, for the first time in the series Indian bowlers were able to contain the visitors.
South Africa was bowled out for 265 on the very first day. Teen age bowler Ishant and veteran Harbhajan had excellent spells grabbing three wickets each. Bhajji (Harbhajan) was really very economical in containing the visitors to a score of 265.
In response, though the Indian openers made no difference, Ganguly played a big role in take India thru Day 2 of the Test.
Sourav Ganguly cracked a gutsy 87 on a difficult pitch to help India
gain a slender advantage on the second day of the third and final Test
against South Africa here on Saturday. Ganguly counter-attacked brilliantly on a track of uneven bounce,
smashing a six off left-arm spinner Paul Harris and nine fours during
his 119-ball knock to pull his team out of trouble.
