Virender Sehwag (319) slammed the highest score by an Indian and Rahul Dravid (111) broke into the 10,000 test run club even though their personal landmarks may not prove enough to force a result in the first cricket Test against South Africa.
In a change of trend after three days of lop-sided battle between the bat and the ball on a docile pitch, South African bowlers finally made a mark on Saturday and bartered 159 runs for nine Indian wickets that did not allow the hosts to stretch their first innings lead beyond 87 runs.
And after restricting the Indians to 627, South Africa were 131 for one in their second essay with in-form duo of Neil Mckenzie (59) and Hashim Amla (35) in the middle when stumps were drawn with the visitors leading by 44 runs.
Sehwag failed to eclipse Brian Lara's world record score of 400 not out but he nonetheless posted the highest test score by an Indian, bettering his 309 against Pakistan in the 2004 Multan Test.
Dravid (111) too had his slice of history as the former captain became the sixth batsman, and third Indian, to join the 10,000 test run club en route to his 25th century in the longer version of the game.
With just one day's play left, the Test seemed headed towards a draw unless the Indian bowlers produce an extra-ordinary display to skittle out the South Africans cheaply in the second innings.
When India resumed their innings at 468 for one on Saturday morning, the main focus point was whether Sehwag can break Lara's record. Makhaya Ntitni, however, had other plans and the South African spearhead dealt a double blow to send groans across the ma Chidambaram stadium.
First he induced an edge from Sehwag that flew to Jacques Kallis in the slips and in his next over, the South African had Sachin Tendulkar caught by Neil Mckenzie, again in the slips, for a duck.
Sehwag could add just 10 runs to his overnight score and his 319 was the result of his 304-minute stay in the middle which produced 42 delectable boundaries and five breathtaking sixes.
Sourav Ganguly (24) too got going but the left-hander could not convert the start and bottom edged Paul Harris to perish caught behind.
Dravid was far from fluent, as evident from his strike rate of 38.14, but the former captain was rewarded for his endurance.
Batting at 79, Dravid flicked Morne Morkel and completed a single to join Brian Lara (11,953), Tendulkar (11,782), Allan Border (11,174), Steve Waugh (10,927) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) in the elite league.
Never the one to break into a wild celebration, Dravid raised his bat, took off the helmet and kissed it before acknowledging the rousing standing ovation from the crowd that included wife Vijeta and son Samit.
Ntini finally cut short Dravid's stay when Kallis took a sharp catch in the slips. Dravid's 291-ball 111 included 15 hits to the fence.
Once Dravid exited, India's lower order was exposed and suddenly Dale Steyn decided to live up to the pre-series hype around him.
The Protea Tearaway came up with a four-wicket burst that rocked India's lower order. Steyn had M S Dhoni (16) caught behind before he went on to disturb the stumps of Anil Kumble (3), Harbhajan Singh (0) and R P Singh (0).
VVS Laxman (39, 64B, 4X4) was the last man to go when Harris caught him off his own bowling to restrict India to 627.
In their second essay, South African openers Graeme Smith (35) and Neil Mckenzie began with a flourish, just like they had done in the first innings.
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