Kolkata: India made a drab affair of what could have been an exciting finale to the Test series, opting for a draw in the third and final cricket match against West Indies on Sunday despite having been placed in a position of strength by centurions Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman.

Tendulkar and Laxman virtually ruled out a defeat for the home team but India's declaration of its second innings did not come till late in the final session after reaching a score of 471 for eight.

With a victory target of 333 almost impossible to achieve in the remaining few overs of the day, West Indies, who had scored 497 in its first innings to take a 139-run lead, decided not to come out for its second innings.

The draw meant the three-match series, which was already won by India following its wins in Mumbai and Chennai, ended with a 2-0 result in favour of the home team.

Laxman, who put on a record 214 runs in a crucial fifth wicket partnership with Tendulkar, remained unbeaten on 154, his nearly nine-hour knock studded with 17 boundaries.

Tendulkar, who had completed his 31st Test hundred on Saturday, batted beautifully this morning before being dismissed for 176 shortly after the lunch break. The master batsman faced 298 deliveries and struck 26 fours.

Tendulkar was declared the man-of-the-match while Harbhajan Singh, who picked up 20 wickets from the three Tests, was named the man-of-the series.

Earlier, Tendulkar and Laxman, who came together when India was precariously placed at 87 for four, added 104 runs in an extended two and half hour morning session on Sunday to take the score to 299 for four at lunch.

Tendulkar, who resumed at his overnight 114 in the team score of 195 for four, did the bulk of the scoring in the morning session. He showed a lot of urgency and scored at a very brisk pace which gave an impression that India was looking to declare its innings at around tea time.

He hit nine fours in the morning session but also got a life on 171 when he was dropped by Chris Gayle off Jermaine Lawson at point, a short while after the two batsman posted the 200-run partnership.

Laxman, who started from his overnight score of 30, was happy playing second fiddle to Tendulkar and reached his half-century with a fine drive between mid-on and long- on against Darren Powell.

By lunch, they had already improved on the India's previous best fifth wicket stand of 204 against West Indies by Sunil Gavaskar and Brijesh Patel achieved at Port of Spain in 1975-76.

West Indies skipper Carl Hooper claimed the new ball after the 17th over of the day, 81st of the innings, and used six bowlers but failed to unsettle the Indian batsmen who looked in no discomfort ever.

Extras:
Tendulkar pulls hamstring, doubtful for One-dayers