Brian Lara will remain the leading scorer in Test cricket for a few more days after Sachin Tendulkar failed to make the 64 runs he needed yesterday to overhaul the former West Indies batsman in the drawn first Test against Australia in Bangalore. However, Tendulkar did make 49 in almost three hours to guide India to safety.

Ricky Ponting declared Australia’s second innings on 228 for six after five overs of the final day, setting India 299 to win, but, after losing Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid early on the home team were content to bat out time for a draw. Tendulkar added 61 in 26 overs with V. V. S. Laxman before giving Cameron White his first Test wicket by driving to short cover.

India had their tailenders to thank for ensuring that Australia did not run away with the match after making 430 in the first innings. India were 232 for seven in their first innings, but Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan made their fifth and second Test fifties respectively to cut the deficit to 70.

Zaheer, who also took six wickets, was named man of the match and then criticised Australia’s bowlers for being ineffective. “They know they can’t take 20 wickets and they are on the back foot,” he said. “We are in with a big chance. They are under pressure.” The second Test starts in Mohali on Friday.

Lancashire have decided not to offer Stuart Law, their captain last season, a new contract. Glen Chapple, the 34-year-old seam bowler, will take on the captaincy. Law, who is 40 on Saturday and played one Test for Australia in 1995, joined Lancashire from Essex in 2002 as an overseas player before qualifying as an English resident.

He scored almost 8,000 first-class runs for them at an average of 56, but his relationship with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) created problems. Law led Chennai Superstars to victory in the unofficial Twenty20 event last year and is competing again this month. Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, said: “Stuart has been a top-class player and has served us superbly but the club is committed to giving younger members of the squad the opportunity to grow. Although not a determining factor, any player’s allegiance to the ICL does make it difficult for English counties.” The ECB is trying to prevent clubs from signing players with ICL links.

Law had also raised eyebrows with his criticism of Lancashire when the county released Dominic Cork.

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