St. John's: As funerals go, this was joyous. The Antigua Recreation Ground's last Test — if Tony Cozier is to be believed — managed to bring together all the elements that make Test cricket the glorious game it is.

A man on one good leg fought off 11 others. Yet, when it mattered he could do a little more than watch helplessly. It went down to the last ball; no one won. Try explaining that to an American.

Greg, the guy at the refreshments counter in the press box, said to no one in particular: "West Indies have to bat out an hour after tea to be safe. I have seen worse, far worse." This from a man who caught both of Brian Lara's world records, Chris Gayle's triple and the West Indies' world-record fourth innings chase — all at this ground.

The players came out after tea on the first Test's final day at 3 p.m. local time. West Indies — after an excellent first hour and a half, a disastrous 20 minutes before lunch and a tranquil middle session — was on 158 for three from 57 overs.

Uncharacteristic knock

The home side's two best batsmen, Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan, had lasted 14 balls between them for a run. Nevertheless, West Indies, through a rare restrained almost comatose innings — interspersed with three sixes from nowhere — from Gayle and a rarer fluent innings from Chanderpaul, had held India at bay between lunch and tea.

Only 38 overs needed to be batted out now. The pitch had held. "That was a bit of a surprise," said Dravid. "There was still a bit of bounce, but not much spin. We thought there might be uneven bounce, but it didn't happen."

At 3.12 p.m., Gayle fell leg-before to the relentless Anil Kumble. The decision was marginal — the ball might have missed off-stump — but the left-hander hadn't been given when he appeared to have gloved one. These things even out. Gayle's 69 had taken him 188 balls and over four-and-a-half hours.

One brings two, old-timers say, but the second part of 171 for four did not happen for 36 minutes. Then Chanderpaul left, caught at slip off pad and bat. Five for 202, more than 27 overs to go, and India was in with a sniff.

But Dwayne Bravo — who refreshes the mind with each passing game — struck out boldly as the visiting side waited. Virender Sehwag had looped in his off-breaks with cunning in the first innings, and he had Bravo and Ramdin within seven minutes of each other to leave West Indies nearly 21 overs to protect three wickets.

At 5 p.m., Ian Bradshaw, who had dour-batted with the odd square drive since 4.12 p.m., was incorrectly adjudged caught behind by Asad Rauf. Bottles rained from the bleachers; a buzz of disapproval went round the ground. Dave Mohammed swung an adventurous bat as hearts leapt to mouths, but the left-hander survived.

With a little over five overs remaining, Mohammed, with a hamstrung Edwards for company, was let off by Dhoni. The stumping chance was sharp. Then he edged low to Dravid's left off the backfoot, giving the skipper at slip next to no time to react. Mohammed (52) departed eventually at 5.36 p.m., outrageously freeing his arms against Kumble.

The final over

Edwards, with runner Ganga, and No. 11 Collymore entered the last over. Sreesanth to Collymore. Three deliveries were blocked, one was ducked under and another was left alone — not in that order. The last ball didn't happen the first time around as Sreesanth aborted. Then a leg-before appeal, but already hands were being shaken. It was three minutes to 6 p.m.

SCOAREBOARD>

India — 1st innings: 241.

West Indies — 1st innings: 371.

India — 2nd innings: 521 for six decl.

West Indies — 2nd innings: C. Gayle lbw b Kumble 69, D. Ganga c Yuvraj b Kumble 36, R. Sarwan c Kumble b Sreesanth 1, B. Lara lbw b Sreesanth 0, S. Chanderpaul c Dravid b Kumble 62, D. Bravo c Dhoni b Sehwag 28, D. Ramdin c Dravid b Sehwag 8, I. Bradshaw c Dhoni b Munaf 10, D. Mohammed b Kumble 52, F. Edwards (not out) 1, C. Collymore (not out) 1; Extras (b-5, lb-8, nb-17): 30; Total (for nine wkts. in 95 overs) 298.

Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Ganga), 2-68 (Sarwan), 3-72 (Lara), 4-171 (Gayle), 5-202 (Chanderpaul), 6-220 (Bravo), 7-226 (Ramdin), 8-277 (Bradshaw), 9-297 (Mohammed).

India bowling: Munaf 20-4-55-1, Sreesanth 19-10-49-2, Kumble 34-8-107-4, V.R.V. Singh 11-3-35-0, Sehwag 11-2-39-2.

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