Mumbai, Nov 26: Tumbling wickets, fluent strokes, sharp tactics and fading light all played a part in effecting a dramatic last-ball draw with scores level between India and West Indies at the Wankhede. With the final over set to commence, all four results were a possibility but the match eventually ended in the balance, scores level, denying the hosts the triumph of a series sweep.

Where 22 wickets had fallen on the previous four days of the match, eight wickets alone fell in the morning session on Day 5. The Indian spinners, Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin, ripped through the visitors’ batting lineup, allowing them to add only 53 more runs to their overnight score of 81. Both Ojha and Ashwin picked four wickets apiece in the first session as the West Indies were bowled out for 134, setting India a fourth innings target of 243 in a little over two sessions.

Having knocked off 16 runs from that target before lunch, Gautam Gambhir (12) was the first Indian wicket to fall in the course of the run chase. The left-handed batsman was out caught at point by Darren Sammy off Fidel Edwards with the score at 19.

Virender Sehwag, nevertheless, gave the Indian innings the momentum it needed to pull off the victory with a delightful 65-ball 60 that included eight hits to the fence. But the visitors pulled things back when they had Sehwag caught by Darren Sammy off Devendra Bishoo just after India had reached the 100-run mark. Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket on 3 and Rahul Dravid’s on 33 in quick succession further impeded the Indian run chase. But a 35-run partnership before the tea interval between VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli helped stabilise the Indian innings and the hosts finally went in to tea at 148 for four, needing 95 runs to win with six wickets in hand.

India would lose two more wickets – Laxman (31) and MS Dhoni (13) – in the first hour after tea to add to the drama. But with Kohli and R Ashwin striking a 35-run partnership that left India needing only 19 runs to win off the last five overs, the hosts were once again favourites to win.

However, Devendra Bishoo dismissed Virat Kohli (63) off the first ball of the 60th over to add another twist to the match. Ishant Sharma and Ashwin then brought India to within four runs of victory but with Ravi Rampaul knocking over Sharma in the 63rd over, it was left to young Varun Aaron and Ashwin to take their team home. With Ashwin defending the penultimate delivery to avoid the possibility of an Indian defeat (India were eight wickets down at that stage), it was down to two runs needed off one ball with Ashwin on strike. Cantering to a single, Aaron turned lighting quick for the second run; Ashwin, however, found that he had lost the battle for the ambitious run when he discovered the throw from the field had come in to his end. The match was drawn with Ashwin’s dismissal with India on 242 for nine.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 5: West Indies 1st innings 590 all out in 181.0 overs (Darren Bravo 166, R Ashwin 5/156) and West Indies 2nd innings 134 all out in 57.2 overs (Darren Bravo 48, Pragyan Ojha 6/47) draw withIndia 1st innings 482 all out in 135.4 overs (R Ashwin 103, Sachin Tendulkar 94, Marlon Samuels 3/74) and India 2nd innings 242/9 in 64.0 overs (Virat Kohli 63, Ravi Rampaul 3/56)

At end of Day 4: West Indies 1st innings 590 all out in 181.0 overs (Darren Bravo 166, R Ashwin 5/156) and West Indies 2nd innings 81/2 in 34.0 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 34*, Pragyan Ojha 2/27); India 1st innings 482 all out in 135.4 overs (R Ashwin 103, Marlon Samuels 3/74)

At end of Day 3: West Indies 1st innings 590 all out in 181.0 overs (Darren Bravo 166, Kirk Edwards 86, R Ashwin 5/156); India 1st innings 281/3 in 80.0 overs (Rahul Dravid 82, Ravi Rampaul 1/42)

At end of Day 2: West Indies 1st innings 575/9 in 184.1 overs (Darren Bravo 166, R Ashwin 4/154)

At end of Day 1: West Indies 1st innings 267/2 in 91.0 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 68, Kirk Edwards 65*, R Ashwin 2/86)

Man-of-the-Match: R Ashwin for an all-round performance. Ashwin finished with bowling figures of nine for 190 and scored 117 runs, including a first-inning century

Man-of-the-Series:R Ashwin for a superb effort that included 22 wickets and his maiden Test century.