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India secures 2-2 series draw against South Africa

Skipper Rahul Dravid's composed half-century anchored India to a series-leveling victory by five wickets on Monday in the fifth and final limited-overs international against South Africa.

Dravid's unbeaten 78 steered India to 224 for five in 47.3 overs after South Africa had put on a challenging 221 for six from 50. South Africa's innings revolved around a resounding 91 from Jacques Kallis.

Stabilizing the Indian innings after the departure of three attacking top-order batsmen, Dravid helped India secure a 2-2 draw in the series that also featured a washed-out match.

South Africa had won the series opener by five wickets, then India clinched the second match by six wickets and the third game was rained off without a ball being bowled. South Africa outplayed India by 10 wickets in the fourth one-dayer, raising prospects of becoming the first team from that country to win a one-day series in India until Dravid produced a polished knock.

Surviving two dropped catches, Dravid ensured India did not lose the series after clinching a 6-1 limited-overs series victory against Sri Lanka earlier this month.

Dravid struck 10 boundaries off 106 deliveries and shared an innings-repairing stand of 79 from 112 deliveries for the fourth wicket with Yuvraj Singh, whose 49 contained seven fours off 64 balls.

Dravid made the South Africans pay dearly for his spilled return-catch on 32 by off-spinner Johan Botha.

The Indian captain also survived an edge shot against pace bowler Makhaya Ntini that sped to the fence after eluded the outstretched hand of South African skipper Graeme Smith at second slip.

Before Dravid came into the frame, India lost super-substitute opener Gautam Gambhir for a duck, but aggressive strokeplay by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar spurred the home team's scoring.

Sehwag blazed for a 20-ball 27 that contained one six and five boundaries.

Sehwag punished pace ace Shaun Pollock by taking 14 runs off three deliveries, but fell two LBW in the same over.

Sehwag first sent a crashing cover drive to the fence and hooked the next ball for six over the square-leg.

He cut the following delivery for four to point, but Pollock got his revenge with a sharp incutter.

Tendulkar struck five boundaries in his 44-ball 30 before falling to a brilliant diving catch by Ashwell Prince at point in playing a square-cut against Andre Nel.

South Africa's star batsman Kallis missed his 14th one-day century by nine runs, but helped the team recover from a shaky start.

Kallis hit five boundaries during his 146-ball knock and shared an innings-building partnership of 81 for the fourth wicket with vice captain Mark Boucher (35).

Holding the innings together until his departure in the penultimate over, Kallis lofted the ball to Kaif at long-on and become the third victim of paceman Irfan Pathan (3-20).
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