Monday began with Australia harbouring slim hopes of completing a 3-1 series triumph to celebrate their continued lease on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Less than halfway through the day, it was clear as crystal that the stalemate wouldn't be broken, not with Sehwag reiterating his tremendous cricketing intelligence to go with his stunning ball-striking abilities.

The Delhi opener's 13th Test hundred was as entertaining as his previous 12. It was also exceptional for the manner in which it was thought out, paced and executed. At top gear during the first session when India, resuming on 45 for one and an overall lead of eight, needed to push on so as not to invite pressure upon themselves, he pulled back the horses in the afternoon, determined to consolidate and steer the ship to safe shores. It was an innings at once full of character and out of character, a sign of the one-time maverick ready to make the transition to a responsible senior with more than just the self in mind.

Anil Kumble's declaration at 269 for seven, two overs before play could be called off at the start of the final hour, brought the curtains down on a memorable series that, the record books will show, Australia won 2-1. Had Sydney not panned out the way it did, we could yet have had a different tale to tell!

The thrills on the final day were restricted to the first 105 minutes. Apart from Sehwag's blistering strokeplay, there eventuated a broken right middle finger that eventually forced Rahul Dravid to retire hurt. There was also the most unfortunate dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in his final Test innings on Australian soil, run out for just 13, disappointing a crowd in excess of 11,000 that had turned up to watch a second successive masterpiece from the master on Adam Gilchrist's last day as a Test cricketer.

Minor role

Sehwag had a minor role to play in Tendulkar's run out, responding initially to his partner's call for a sharp single before backing out, but he more than made up with quite the innings of the match. That is saying something, considering the quality of batsmanship on offer. Most of the structures translating into three-figure outings at the Oval were meticulous, methodical efforts. Sehwag's first hundred runs were quite the stunning contrast, all positive intent and attacking batsmanship that mocked the slowness of the track and the quality of the Australian bowling.

Australia's best chance of forcing an unlikely win lay in striking early as well as drying up the runs, thereby strangulating the visitors. Sehwag responded in inimitable fashion with a succession of strokes through the off-side, hitting crisply through the line and seldom in the air. There was a calmness to his batting despite the hectic rate of scoring that was at once reassuring and exhilarating. Seldom, as Sehwag himself will admit, has he batted with such authority and poise. Had he stayed with his one-time deputy any longer in the middle, his former captain would have been thrilled to bits.

Outstanding Lee

As it turned out, Dravid, runless for half an hour, was struck painfully on his right middle finger fending a lifter from the outstanding Brett Lee, player of the series for his 24 wickets. Dravid tried to soldier on, but the pain was too much to bear. He left ruing an opportunity missed to see the team through a difficult phase, but for reasons beyond his control.

Man of the match Tendulkar had hardly settled in when, with a quarter of an hour to lunch, he ran himself out, Mitchell Johnson showing agility and accuracy on his followthrough to score a direct hit. Australia had a little foot in the door then, but Sehwag slammed it shut with a masterly exhibition of defensive batting in the second session.

How often has the 29-year-old played 68 balls in a two-hour period for 29 runs, without a boundary but still not fidgety?! Few people believed Sehwag was capable of batting thus; perhaps, Sehwag surprised himself too with his composure during that phase!

Not until the draw was secured did he indulge himself again. Australia atoned for a poor catching show -- how Michael Clarke will rue spilling Sehwag late the previous evening -- by pulling off a few blinders late on, but by then, the game was going only one way. Towards a draw.

Score board

INDIA (I Innings): 526
AUSTRALIA (I Innings): 563
INDIA (II Innings, O/n: 45/1):
Sehwag c Gilchrist b Symonds 151
(354m, 236b, 13x4, 2x6)
Pathan lbw Johnson 0
(8m, 6b)
Dravid (retd hurt) 11
(99m, 64b, 1x4)
Tendulkar (run out) 13
(69m, 36b, 1x4)
Ganguly c Hussey b Johnson 18
(52m, 37b, 1x4)
Laxman c Gilchrist b Lee 12
(40m, 30b)
Dhoni c Hayden b Lee 20
(58m, 44b, 3x4)
Kumble (not out) 9
(63m, 52b)
Harbhajan c Ponting b Hogg 7
(22m, 20b)
Ishant (not out) 2
(16m, 20b)
Extras (B-9, LB-9, W-3, NB-5) 26
Total (for 7 wkts decl, 90 overs) 269
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Pathan), 2-128 (Tendulkar), 3-162 (Ganguly), 4-186 (Laxman), 5-237 (Dhoni), 6-253 (Sehwag), 7-264 (Harbhajan).
Bowling: Lee 27-3-74-2 (nb-3), Mitchell Johnson 16-1-33-2 (w-3, nb-2), Andrew Symonds 22-4-52b -1, Stuart Clark 12-3-37-0, Brad Hogg 12-3-53-1, Michael Clarke 1-0-2-0.