Essex had reached 186 for three in their second innings, and still trailed by 378, when Ronnie Irani and Sourav Ganguly agreed the match was going nowhere on the final day.

Essex's Richard Clinton hit 53, while his team-mate Rav Bopara finished undefeated on 47.

India had batted for another 28 overs this morning before declaring on 327 for six, to leave Essex requiring an unlikely 565 for victory.

The tourists resumed on 231 for two this morning, Sanjay Bangar unbeaten on 73 and VVS Laxman nine not out.

Bangar added just a single to his overnight score and was trapped lbw by Mark Ilott for 74 off 178 balls, striking nine boundaries. The third-wicket pair had added only six runs when Bangar departed to leave India on 237 for three.

That became 241 for four when Wasim Jaffer was also adjudged lbw for Ilott's second wicket and when Laxman departed for 42 - caught and bowled by slow left-armer Tim Phillips - India were 280 for five.

Laxman's knock of 42 included five fours and a six driven over long-on off Middlebrook.

Skipper Ganguly lasted only 14 balls before he was sent back, caught and bowled by Ilott, who was the pick of the Essex bowlers, returning figures of four for 67.

Harbhajan Singh then showed his half-century against England was no fluke by clubbing four fours and a six -to finish undefeated on 29 from 21 balls.