CHENNAI, Oct 18: India and Australia both rued a missed opportunity of victory after bad weather ruined an absorbing climax to the second cricket Test on Monday.

Persistent rain washed out the fifth and final day's play in what would have been an enthralling battle, with India on 19-0 chasing a victory target of 229.

The monsoons, delayed by a fortnight, finally hit this southern coastal metropolis, bringing joy to farmers but heartbreak for cricket lovers.

Umpires David Shepherd and Rudi Koertzen called off play at 1 pm (0730 GMT) after the rain became heavier and drenched the wet Chepauk ground.

Indian captain Saurav Ganguly and his Australian counterpart Adam Gilchrist said the match could have gone either way. "Both fancied their chances but I think we were better placed," said Ganguly. "Unfortunately there is nothing one can do with the weather."

Gilchrist, leading Australia in the absence of the injured Ricky Ponting, said "it was a very, very frustrating way to finish such a good Test match." "Both teams were genuinely in the hunt and it was anyone's guess who would have won," he said.

"India may have been slightly in front but it would have been extremely difficult to get 229 on a last-day pitch."

The match provided rousing cricket over the first four days as Australia, trailing by 141 on the first innings, rode on a century from Damien Martyn in the second innings to set India a challenging target.

No team has successfully chased 229 runs at the Chepauk. The highest fourth innings total to win a Test at this venue was India's 155-8 against Australia in the previous series in 2001.

World champions Australia, looking for their first series win on Indian soil since 1969, retain the 1-0 lead after taking the first Test in Bangalore by 217 runs last week. The remaining two Tests will be played in Nagpur (Oct 26-30) and Mumbai (Nov 3-7).

Ganguly said his side's improved performance gave him hope for the last two matches. "We played much better than we did at Bangalore and that is a good sign," he said.

"Things are looking up again for us and I am certain that if rain stays away there will be results in both Nagpur and Mumbai.

"I am really glad for Veeru (Virender Sehwag) who made 155 in the first innings. I had no doubt he would return to form sometime in the series and he showed us here what a remarkable player he is."

Ganguly warned Australia they will struggle to repeat the 3-0 romp they enjoyed in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

"Sri Lanka only had Muttiah Muralitharan, while we have two world class spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh," he said. "Both are proven match-winners and will have a big role to play in the remaining matches."

Kumble, who claimed his 400th wicket in the first Test, finished with 13 wickets in the second and was named Man-of-the-Match ahead of Sehwag.

Gilchrist said he was disappointed at being bowled out for 235 in the first innings. "That was a big blow," he said. "In the past we may have been very intimidated by that collapse but the team fought back hard and set targets. "I think we played very good cricket except for that collapse on the first day."

The rivals will have eight days to recover from two back-to-back Tests before hostilities resume at Nagpur.

While the Indians will touch home base to spend time with families, the tourists plan to spend the period in holiday resorts in Goa and Singapore.-AFP