JOHANNESBURG — South Africa gave up on the chance to set a new world record in chasing down 458 for victory against India on day five of the first Test at the Wanderers Sunday, falling eight runs short as it settled for a draw in the closing overs. The Proteas ended the match on 450 for seven, the third highest fourth innings score in Test history, but played out successive maidens in the second and third last overs of the game to ensure they would not lose the match rather than go for the historic win. It was a massive anti-climax on one of the great days of Test cricket as South Africa went into the final day needing 320 runs to win with eight wickets remaining. “We showed a lot of mental strength not to fade away,” South Africa captain Graeme Smith said in a television interview. “We played it beautifully until Faf got run out and after that you have to respect the decision of the guys in the middle. “Chasing it down would have been incredible. It went down to the last hour which was great for Test cricket. “At the start of the day we wanted to make sure we went to Durban with a chance of winning the series.” After the loss in the morning session of Alviro Petersen (76) and Jacques Kallis (34) had put India on top, a 205-run fifth wicket stand between Du Plessis (134) and AB de Villiers (103) laid the platform for what would have been an extraordinary win. The partnership was ended when De Villiers chopped an Ishant Sharma delivery onto his stumps with 56 runs still needed, and the jitters started in the home dressing room as JP Duminy (five) was bowled by the impressive Mohammed Shami. Vernon Philander (25 not out) and Du Plessis took South Africa to within 16 runs of the win before the latter was run out with a direct hit by Ajinkya Rahane as he attempted a quick single. At seven wickets down South Africa decided to play for the draw, with Philander and Dale Steyn (six not out) shouldering arms in the closing overs. Steyn lofted the final deliver of the match over the boundary for six to howls of disapproval from the Wanderers crowd, who could scarcely believe their side had baulked at the opportunity to make history. There was history of sorts made earlier in the day though, when India paceman Zaheer Khan claimed his 300th Test wicket with the scalp of Kallis. Zaheer became the fourth Indian bowler to claim 300 Test wickets behind Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434) and Harbhajan Singh (413). — Reuters Scoreboard India (1st innings) 280 South Africa (1st innings) 244 India (2nd innings) 421 South Africa (2nd innings) Petersen b Shami 76 Smith run out 44 Amla b Shami 04 Du Plessis run out 134 Kallis lbw Khan 34 De Villiers b I. Sharma 103 Duminy b Shami 05 Philander not out 25 Steyn not out 06 Extras: (b-2, lb-7, w-8, nb-2) 19 Total (for 7, 136 overs) 450 Falls: 1-108, 2-118, 3-143, 4-197, 5-402, 6-407, 7-442. Did not bat: M. Morkel, Imran Tahir. Bowling: Z. Khan 34-1-135-1, I. Sharma 29-4-91-1 (nb2, w1), M. Shami 28-5-107-3 (w1), R. Ashwin 36-5-83-0 (w1), M. Vijay 1-0-3-0, MS Dhoni 2-0-4-0, V. Kohli 8-0-18-0.
