MOHALI, India (AP):

India clinched the two-Test series 1-0 against England yesterday after Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh batted the tourists out of the contest on the last day of the second match.

Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni belatedly declared at 251 for seven when Gambhir was dismissed for 97, leaving England an almost impossible target of 403 in less than two sessions.

Gambhir fell three runs short of becoming only the fourth Indian batsman to score centuries in both innings.

England, which lost the opening match by six wickets at Chennai, made 64-1 as the game meandered to a draw.

Opener Alastair Cook (10) was the only Englishman out in the second innings, edging Ishant Sharma to V.V.S Laxman at slip.

Andrew Strauss remained unbeaten on 21 and Ian Bell was not out 24 at stumps.

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The series was almost cancelled in the wake of last month's terror attacks in Mumbai which killed 164 people. The English abandoned the last two games of the limited-overs series and flew home after the attacks.

After an entertaining six-wicket win at Chennai, Dhoni seemed more content to win the series than push for another win in Mohali that lifted India to the number two spot - behind Australia - in the International Cricket Council Test rankings.

"The series featured good-quality cricket and our players took responsibility to produce some fine performances," Dhoni said. "The series win was an exemplary team effort. When in a tough situation, there was always someone standing up and saying he'll take the team through."

Dhoni said Gambhir and Yuvraj were both unfortunate not to score a century.

"From the team's point of view, we felt it was important that they post their hundreds," Dhoni said, explaining why he delayed the declaration after lunch.

153-run stand

Gambhir, who scored 179 in India's first innings of 453, shared a high-tempo, 153-run stand for the fifth wicket with Yuvraj, who was run out for 86.

India had more than enough to make the match secure at the lunch interval, but Dhoni gave Gambhir more time to chase the milestone. The declaration came half an hour after lunch when Gambhir fell to an outstanding catch by Bell at point off spin bowler Graeme Swann (1-49).

England captain Kevin Pietersen said his team had enjoyed the tour.

"We've enjoyed ourselves and even got into a position from where we could win the Chennai Test but couldn't pull it off," Pietersen said.

"There's always a lot to learn from a tour of India. I'm really proud to be captain of a bunch of players who jumped on a plane back and kept their focus on cricket."