, RAJKOT. India. Oct 9: Martin Crowe hammered an unbeaten 101 as New Zealand's three-

day tour opener against the Indian Board President Xi's ended in a tame draw today, reports Reuter.

New Zealand declared at 251 for five at tea, leaving the Board President's XI a nearimpossible task of scoring 219 for victory in a maximum 30 overs. The game was called off 30 minutes before the scheduled close with the Board-Eleven 69 for one.

Crowe and Stephen Fleming blasted the spin attack for 149 runs off 29.5 overs for the fourth wicket. Crowe, who failed in the first innings, hit 11 fours and two sixes to reach his 70th first-class century.

"I was particularly impressed by the way Martin Crowe and Fleming faced the spinners today." Manager Glenn Turner told reporters.

The valuable experience for our batsman included playing on a wicket that was taking a bit of spin on the last day."

Fleming looked set for a century when he was caught in the outfield by Utpal Chatterjee. He hit 16 fours and one six in his 72 off 93 balls.

New Zealand lost three quick wickets in the morning to the spinners Ashish Kapoor and Narendra Hirwani.

‘’Bryan Young played ot over the first ball Kapoor delivered in the innings and was bowled leg-stump.

Mark Greatbatch, who hit 138 in the first innings, started strongly, slamming six fours in his first 25 runs but then charged down the wicket to lift Hirwani and was stumped for 28.

Adam Parore was out to a spectacular diving catch by Robin Singh at extra-cover and New Zealand were 71 for three. But then Crowe and Fleming pulled the innings together.

Vikram Rathore, a candidate for the first Test against the tourists, made 39 in a first-wicket stand of 51 in the Board President's Xi's second innings before he was caught by Crowe off Mark Haslam.

Skipper Mohammad Azharuddin was of the field throughout the day with a stiff neck.

New Zealand off-spinner Shane Thomson, who did not bowl in the first innings because of an upset stomach, had seven overs in the second but did not take a wicket.

He justified the second declaration, saying: That was to give our bowlers, particularly Shane Thomson, some useful work in the field."

New Zealand next play a three-day match against Ranji Trophy champions Bombay, starting on Thursday. The first Test begins on October

IS Bangalore.’