Gambhir misses feat but India win series

India opening batsman Gautam Gambhir missed out on scoring hundreds in both innings before the second test against England ended in a draw on the final day in Mohali yesterday, handing the hosts a 1-0 series win.

Gambhir, 27, who top-scored with 179 in the first innings, fell for 97 before India declared their second innings on 251 for seven after lunch.

England were 64 for one when play was called off as a draw after tea, after the visitors were set an improbable victory target of 403 in 43 overs.

Gambhir was dismissed by a brilliant diving catch at point by Bell, who also ran out Yuvraj Singh for 86 with a direct hit to dash his century hopes.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni delayed the declaration to help both batsmen reach hundreds until they succumbed to Bell, who also ran out opener Virender Sehwag (17) on day four.

Gambhir hit his ninth test 50 to sign off a brilliant year and Yuvraj his fourth.

The pair shared a 153-run fifth wicket partnership to revive the innings from 80 for four.

The Delhi batsman hit six fours in his five-and-half hour innings, facing 229 balls while Yuvraj scored his runs off just 93 deliveries, hitting six fours and four sixes.

Fog forced a two-and-a-half hour delay to the start of play, leaving a victory for the hosts unlikely in the game hit by poor visibility on each of the five days.

Gambhir's 276 runs in the match is the highest aggregate by an Indian batsman in a test against England, surpassing the 257 by Vinoo Mankad at Lord's in 1952.

He missed becoming only the fourth Indian batsman to score hundreds in either innings when he uppishly cut Swann to be caught by a diving Bell at point.

The visitors resumed their aborted tour after security was assured in the wake of last month's militant attacks in Mumbai, the original venue for the second test.