Time For Celebration : India wins Test series on Kiwi soil after 41 years!

India proofed their primary series triumph on New Zealand soil in 41 years though rain denied them a deserving victory in the third cricket 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 Indians, who outplayed the Kiwis right through the match, were well on course for a victory by trickery 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 restart the post-lunch session half an hour after wildcat strike.

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.