Dhoni perplexed by final-day drama

West Indies captain Darren Sammy and Fidel Edwards enjoy the draw (Reuters)

The West Indies snatched a thrilling draw with the scores level to deny India a series clean sweep on the final day of the third Test in Mumbai on Saturday.

Needing two runs off the final ball, the last-wicket pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Varun Aaron could manage only a single when Ashwin was run out attempting an improbable second run.

It was only the second time that a Test has been drawn with the scores level. The other instance was when England failed to beat Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 1996.

Seventeen wickets fell on the final day on the Wankhede Stadium pitch, which had been a batting paradise on the first four days.

The India captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was surprised at the change in the character of the pitch. "Till yesterday everything was fine. It was the flattest of wickets," said Dhoni with a grin. "Something happened in the morning and it started to turn. Most of us thought it would be a draw but it turned into a close game."