Gautam Gambhir's 16th half-century for India kept South Africa at bay as the third test at Newlands was drawn on Thursday and the series between cricket's top two test teams shared.

Gambhir's resolute 64 from 184 balls held India together on a crumbling fifth-day pitch at Cape Town as it ended 166-3 in its second innings to draw the match.

India needed an unlikely final-day target of 340 to win the test and take the series 2-1.

Top-ranked India lost a single wicket in each session, Virender Sehwag (11) before lunch, Rahul Dravid (31) in the afternoon and Gambhir after tea.

South Africa seam bowlers Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Dale Steyn claimed one wicket each and Sachin Tendulkar was 14 not out in what is expected to be his final test innings in South Africa.