Neither team played with much fluency in a tight first half, but the match burst into life in a second period peppered with chances at both ends.
Home goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey produced several excellent saves to deny the visitors, while Wales were close to snatching a late winner through Ashley Williams and Gareth Bale.
After winning their previous match in Andorra 2-1 and with other results going their way, a draw was enough to take Wales to the top of Group B.
Chris Coleman’s side were backed by a vociferous crowd of 30,741 at the Cardiff City Stadium – though it also included a very vocal away following – a record attendance for an international fixture at the venue. They face Cyprus at the same ground on Monday.
Injuries had disrupted preparations for Wales, with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen of Liverpool the most notable absentees.
Joe Ledley and Jonathan Williams were given the formidable task of replacing them – and containing a dangerous Bosnian midfield featuring Roma’s Miralem Pjanic.
Williams created the game’s first chance, as his corner was headed over by his namesake, captain Ashley Williams, in the seventh minute.
It was not long before Bale had his first effort on goal, latching on to a long pass from Ben Davies but sending a deft volley over the bar.
The Real Madrid winger was not as influential as usual, primarily because the world’s most expensive player was stalked everywhere he went by Everton’s Muhamed Besic.
As well as shackling the hosts’ main threat, Bosnia showed flashes of their own attacking potential in the first half with a couple of shots from distance from Pjanic.
And they were quickly on the front foot after the restart.
Hennessey had to make two excellent saves to deny Haris Medunjanin and captain Edin Dzeko, while the Crystal Palace keeper was well beaten by a Pjanic free-kick that curled narrowly wide.
The hosts had a glorious chance to take the lead against the run of play, but an unmarked Ashley Williams headed over from Bale’s free-kick.
That was the catalyst for a frantic finale, with Hennessey brilliantly saving a Pjanic free-kick and Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic producing the save of the night to palm away Bale’s fierce angled shot.
(Source: BBC Sport)
