Only the second draw with scores level

Oct 12, 2011
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Test off its final ball, only the second match to end in a draw with the scores level





End of over 62 (4 runs) India 237/7
I Sharma 9* (13b 1x4) FH Edwards 6-0-26-1
R Ashwin 12* (24b) R Rampaul 15-1-53-2
Six required off the last two overs. One edge and this could be over. They need Rampaul to bowl two bouncers and two yorkers this over, which are not edged away for runs
62.1
Rampaul to Sharma, no run, 81.8 mph, Have WI missed the game here?. Sharma is nearly run out. He thinks he has flicked this wide of midwicket, but Brathwaite makes a diving save. Sharma is gone, but the throw is too high and too slow. He makes it back
62.2
Rampaul to Sharma, 1 run, 83.1 mph, another run-out missed. Pushed to cover-point for a streaky single, but the throw is inaccurate. Ashwin was short had it hit
Five men saving one now
62.3
Rampaul to Ashwin, 1 run, 85.0 mph, late-cuts this short of a length delivery to third man for a single
Now Ashwin calls Sharma for a chat. Varun Aaron stands padded up
62.4
Rampaul to Sharma, no run, 86.4 mph, wide of the crease, and he bowls a lovely yorker on his toes. The best Sharma can do is save his toes. That swung in late
62.5
Rampaul to Sharma, OUT, 84.7 mph, RR strikes. A hush falls over the Wankhede. This is a beauty. This man has bowled his guts out. Short of a length, seams back in, too good for Sharma. Bursts through the gap. Leg stump is out
I Sharma b Rampaul 10 (23m 17b 1x4 0x6) SR: 58.82
India one shot from the win. West Indies two balls away. All four results plus "we flippin' murdered them" still open. In walks debutant Varun Aaron. The man at the other end might seem like a veteran of 50 Tests, but this is his third Test. Singles available all over
62.6
Rampaul to Aaron, 1 run, 86.7 mph, length ball, late swing in, Aaron goes for it, gets a thick inside edge, Ashwin takes the single
End of over 63 (3 runs) India 240/8
VR Aaron 1* (1b) R Rampaul 16-1-56-3
R Ashwin 13* (25b) FH Edwards 6-0-26-1
Last over of the match coming up. India need three runs. WI need two wickets. The field will be up. Edwards will be asked to bowl full and straight. Sehwag still lounges on the massage table. Only fine leg and third man are back
63.1
FH Edwards to Aaron, no run, 83.0 mph, short of a length, outside off, sharp pace, Aaron is beaten as he looks to dab it
Ashwin walks up and knocks gloves with Aaron. Sammy has a chat with Edwards. A yorker coming up? Whoa. Edwards doesn't let go of the ball. He sees Ashwin backing up, but has over-run him. So can't even run him out. Perhaps it was just a warning
63.2
FH Edwards to Aaron, no run, 90.6 mph, length ball, crisply driven, into the ground, bounces overhead for short cover. Fielded very well. Aaron must be nervous now
63.3
FH Edwards to Aaron, no run, 87.8 mph, heave-ho, heave-ho. No touch on the bat. And Baugh is sensational behind the stumps. Length ball. Aaron swings. The ball swings. Misses the leg stumps. Bounces short of Baugh. But he nonchalantly sticks the left hand out. And is ready to throw should they run a bye
63.4
FH Edwards to Aaron, 1 run, 90.9 mph, misfield by Samuels. Length ball again, bounces short of mid-off. Samuels fumbles. Aaron, who hesitated for the single, was a goner of he had collected and thrown
Right what does Ashwin do now? Does he take the single and level the scores? Singles available
63.5
FH Edwards to Ashwin, no run, 90.5 mph, big lbw appeal. The inside edge saves him. India can't lose now. This can't even be a tie. Late swing now. Ashwin looks to work this to leg, at the same time not taking a big risk, in order to rule out a defeat
Two results ruled out. Either India can win or this will draw. This could draw with scores level. Everybody saving two now. Ones available all over. In runs Edwards. Is this Ashwin's Test? Is this destiny?
63.6
FH Edwards to Ashwin, 1 run, OUT, 88.1 mph, West Indies salvage a draw here. Fletcher might as well say, "We flippin' murdered them.". A length ball, pushes his weight back and smashes this down to long-on. It's as if he has made his mind up there is no second available. Slow to start, slow to turn around. He goes for the second only when Aaron pushes him. Run out by a mile. Did Ashwin miss a trick in the final moment? This doesn't by any means take away credit from what all Ashwin did in the lead-up
R Ashwin run out 14 (70m 27b 0x4 0x6) SR: 51.85