Gautam Gambhir's resolute 64 from 184 balls held India together on a crumbling fifth-day pitch. India stubbornly toiled against an equally determined Proteas battery for 166-3 in its second innings to draw the match - and the series 1-1.

Top-ranked India avoided losing a series in South Africa for the first time in five attempts, although it missed the opportunity for a first-ever series win in the country after holding the advantage in the final match early on day four.

“It was a very interesting series,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. “I think the batsmen did their job, the bowlers did really well, we just couldn't pull it off when it came to taking that last wicket yesterday.

“At the end of the day we will be happy with our performance. As I always say, we have got a tremendous side. We take pride in performing for India ... there are plenty of positives.” South Africa was 98-5 and then 130-6 on Wednesday, before Jacques Kallis hit his second century of the match to set India an unlikely final-day victory target of 340 to win the Test and series.

Kallis' earned the man of the match award for his successive hundreds and the match-turning century late on day four on his home ground, despite painful chest injuries that will keep him out of the one-day series.

“To do it in front of a Newlands crowd is fantastic,” Kallis said. “It was an important Test match and we were in a little trouble so it means a lot.

“I'm playing as well as I've ever played. I've worked on my game over the last three or four years ... and hopefully there's more to come.” The allrounder was also voted man of the series. He scored three centuries, including his first double, in five innings, tallied 498 and averaged 166.

After the early loss of attacking opener Virender Sehwag, India defended grimly on Thursday.

The tourists lost just one wicket in each session on day five: Sehwag (11) before lunch, Rahul Dravid (31) in the afternoon and Gambhir after tea.

Sachin Tendulkar was 14 not out in what was expected to be his final Test innings in South Africa, and VVS Laxman was uneaten on 32 at the close.

South Africa seam bowlers Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Dale Steyn claimed one wicket each as South Africa applied pressure, but ultimately failed to rattle the Indians.

Needing to bowl India out in 90 overs on the final day of the three-Test contest, the Proteas removed Sehwag in the 12th over when he edged behind to captain Graeme Smith at slip off Morkel.

But Gambhir and Dravid battled for a 79-run partnership for the second wicket and the experienced Tendulkar and Laxman saw India safely through the final 20 overs.

With eight overs still to be bowled late in the afternoon, Smith conceded South Africa would not win the match and offered a handshake to Tendulkar.

It settled a seesaw series between the best two teams.

South Africa won the first Test at Centurion by an innings and 25 runs, and India fought back at Durban to win by 87 runs.

“It was a terrific series,” Smith said. “It was very competitive, the fans certainly enjoyed every Test match.

Every day and every session was competitive.

“We were in a lot of trouble yesterday at lunch and we fought hard. We competed really well with the best team in the world, we just didn't quite have enough to finish it off today.” Gambhir and Dravid defended for the majority of the first two sessions on Thursday, and scored their runs in bunches, to hold off South Africa.

Gambhir reached 50 off 103 balls, his 16th Test half century, in a vital innings for India on a pitch, which offered unpredictable bounce and turn for spinners.

Dravid also dug in, then hit successive fours off part-time spinner Smith, before returning to defensive mode as India crawled past 100 in 44 overs for the loss of just one wicket.

Dravid fell just before tea when a delivery from Tsotsobe reared up off the pitch, clipped the shoulder of his bat and Prince took a two-handed catch at gully stretching above his head.

Gambhir had hit nine fours before he gloved a legside delivery from Dale Steyn through to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher just after tea - and South Africa's hopes were raised with two wickets for 14 runs.

But Tendulkar summed up India's resolve.

The 37-year-old great, who had two centuries in the series, ground out 14 from 91 balls with no boundaries and was at the crease when India recorded a draw for the first time in a series in South Africa.