October 13, 2003	Monday	Sha'aban 16, 1424

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AHMEDABAD (India), Oct 12: Craig McMillan regained form with a defiant 83 not out and a half-hit Nathan Astle helped New Zealand salvage a draw on the final day of the first Test against India on Sunday.

New Zealand, never looking like they would go after an improbable fourth innings target of 370 on a slow pitch, had reached 272 for six when play was called off as a draw.

The 27-year-old player, who hit 54 in the first innings on his comeback after a poor run with the bat, frustrated the bowling alongside Astle to ensure safety.

Astle, top scorer with 103 in the first innings but batting down the order because of a stomach upset, was 51 not out.

The pair added 103 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket after opener Lou Vincent had anchored a shaky top order by making a solid 67.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble had raised India’s victory hopes by reducing the tourists to 169 for six in the middle session, claiming four for 95 to claim six wickets in the match.

But McMillan and Astle saw off the second new ball taken just before tea and scored freely until the end as captain Saurav Ganguly eased the pressure with a defensive field.

McMillan, dropped for the April tour of Sri Lanka because of his poor form, hit eight fours in his 18th fifty, facing 190 balls in his stay spanning well over four hours.

It was a moral victory for New Zealand at the start of what has been dubbed as a revenge affair after the visitors swept a two-Test series at home late last year.

India had declared both their innings, at 500 for five and 209 for six but the Ahmedabad pitch, where the last two Tests have ended in dull draws, played its part in the result.

New Zealand were under pressure from the moment Kumble bowled nightwatchmen Daryl Tuffey with his first delivery of the day after inexplicably being held back until the 14th over.