Lahore, January 17:

India’s openers Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid missed a world record opening partnership by four runs as the first cricket Test against Pakistan ended in a draw here on Tuesday.

India were 410-1 in reply to Pakistan’s 679-7 declared when play was called off after just 2.2 overs on the fifth and final day at the Gaddafi stadium. The result was a formality after murky weather and light rain curtailed play to just 64.2 overs from the available 270 over the last three days of the high-scoring Test.

Sehwag and Dravid needed 11 runs to surpass the world record of 413 for the first wicket by fellow-countrymen Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against New Zealand in Madras in 1956. They faltered despite being assisted by both the umpires and the home team.

With four hours lost due to bad light on the final day, umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen offered Indian captain Dravid a chance to start play just before tea even though the visibility was deteriorating.

When Dravid accepted the chance to break the record, the umpires consulted Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq who sportingly agreed to take the field.

Sehwag, overnight on 247, scored seven to take the total to 410 when he edged a slash off seamer Rana Naved to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. A disappointed Sehwag finished with 254 off 247 balls, his second double-century in as many matches against Pakistan after making 201 in the third Test in Bangalore last year.

Play was called off after 12 minutes as the light worsened, leaving Dravid unbeaten on 128, his 21st Test century but his first as an opening batsman. Venkatsai Laxman was the other batsman at the crease, having faced one delivery without opening his account.

The second Test will be played in Faisalabad from January 21-25.

Lanka beat SA

Brisbane: Sri Lanka let their rivals know they were anything but a spent force in the tri-series limited overs cricket competition when they produced a stunning form reversal to humble South Africa by 94 runs.

The Sri Lankans, who had made 282-6 in their innings, bowled South Africa out for just 188 with 5.4 overs remaining at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Crushed by 116 runs in their opening match against Australia, Sri Lanka were aided by South Africa’s questionable decision to send them in to bat on a perfect wicket and in good conditions.

Their cause was also helped by the late withdrawal of brilliant South African allrounder Jacques Kallis with an elbow injury.

The Proteas also dropped two catches and ran poorly between the wickets, which cost them the wickets of top order batsmen Jacques Rudolph and Herschelle Gibbs. They lost their last five wickets for just 36 runs.

The Sri Lankans were spurred by a 112-run partnership between Jehan Mubarak and Kumar Sangakkara for the second wicket. The partnership ended with the last ball of the 23rd over when Botha trapped Mubarak lbw for 61 off 69 balls, including nine boundaries. Sangakkara went on to make a stylish 88 off 109 balls. Despite the impressive start, Sri Lanka managed just 62 runs off their last 10 overs. —AFP