Wellington: India recorded their first series triumph on New Zealand soil in 41 years though rain denied them a deserving victory in the third Test here on Tuesday.

The third Test ended in a draw due to rain and that meant that India won the series 1-0. India won the first Test in Hamilton by 10 wickets and drew the second Test in Napier.

New Zealand were 281/8 in their second innings, in pursuit of 617, with captain Daniel Vettori (15) and Iain O'Brien (19) at the crease when rain played spoilsport to deny India their first Test win in Wellington in 34 years.

Rain played spoilsport in India's push for a 2-0 series win on the fifth and final day and the hosts escaped with a draw after they were down 281 for eight in the post-lunch session in chase of a near impossible 617 for a win.

New Zealand had an almost impossible task at hand as only two teams, England and the West Indies, have been able to escape with a draw after being set a target of over 600 runs.

India were 2 wickets away from a historic series victory when rain stopped play.

Harbhajan Singh dismissed Tim Southee and Ross Taylor, while Sachin Tendulkar took two wickets in two overs to take India closer to a series victory against New Zealand.

Harbhajan beat Taylor in the flight, with a delivery that went away in the drift and then spun back in after pitching to hit the off and middle stump. Taylor led the Kiwi resistance with his fourth century, hit 16 fours in his 107-run knock and he reached his second century in successive Tests and shared a New Zealand record fifth-wicket partnership with James Franklin before India hit back to hold a commanding position at lunch.

The dismissals gave Tendulkar his 43rd and 44th wickets in Tests and furnished Dravid with his 184th career catch, extending the catching world record he set on Monday. Dravid has now taken three catches in the innings after starting the matched tied with Australian Mark Waugh on 181 catches in Tests.

The day's play started with Taylor and Franklin resuming the New Zealand second innings at 167/4.