Kolkata, Dec 1: After being tormented by Indian batsmen on the field, Pakistani team put up some resistance to end the second day’s play at 50 for 1. While Salman Butt was playing at 26 from 55 balls, stand-in skipper Younis Khan had just come in the middle and was playing at 3 from 19 balls. The day was totally dominated by Indians as Kumble declared the innings at 616 for 5. Jaffer completed his double hundred and Ganguly added another century to his career, only his first one at Eden Gardens.

Earlier, hitting form before the all-important series Down Under, Indian batsmen dominated proceedings at Eden Garden declaring after scoring 616 runs against a depleted Pakistan attack. India took 152 over and five balls to score these runs as three batsmen went on to score a memorable ton. Helped by Jaffer’s double century India led the base for the onslaught. For Sourav and Laxman this century will help a long way in giving their ageing carrear a much-required fillip.

seven bowlers operating for Pakistan failed to stop VVS Laxman from completing another ton at Eden Gardens as he became the third Indian batsman to hit a century in the first innings. Failed to make any further in road Pakistan started a negative line against Laxman but it was he who had the last laugh. Be it Laxman’s square cuts from back foot or straight drive of Kaneria, his batting was nothing short of poetry. His eleventh century comes at a moment when critics had slammed Kumble’s decision to pick him ahead of Yuvraj Singh.

India’s dominance over the proceedings was such that every hundred runs added to Indian total saw just one Indian wicket added in the wicket column. Score board at one point read 111/1, 222/2, 333/3, 444/4, 555/5. Laxman meanwhile in this series remains the not out batsman in four innings. Even Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored a fifty before Ikumble decided to declare the innings.

Earlier, bringing no respite for Pakistani bowlers Indian batsmen continued to pile their agony one after the other. After Jaffer and Ganguly it seemed it was the turn of Laxman to add another century to his name. Pakistan failed to pose any problem for the top Indian batsmen who looked in great touch. Even the turn and bounce on the traditional Eden pitch seemed to be of no help as Laxman kept dancing down the pitch as he remained unbeaten on 91 runs at tea.

Showing glimpses of his old form and clearly stamping his authority over bowlers Sourav Ganguly ended a 97 Test match wait to hit his first ever century at Eden Garden. Ganguly however was out after scoring a majestic 102 runs. Trying to up the score card Ganguly was caught at mid off as he miscued a Salman Butt delivery. Tanvir took a simple catch and all Pakistan players went in a rare hurdle. Dhoni arrived on the crease to give company to Laxman. India meanwhile completed 550 run mark.

Their form and age was in question before the start of the Test series against Pakistan. The two contemporary great of Indian cricket defied age and pundits by their stroke play and class. One has a very very special attachment with the Eden Garden and other is the ‘Maharaj’ of Indian cricket. Laxman and Ganguly both delighted almost packed capacity crowd with their delicate shots. This is Ganguly’s first century at his home ground.

For, Ganguly this probably was the last chance to play in front of his home crowd and the southpaw looked in no mood to disappoint his supports. Both ensured that India cross 500 runs without any further damage. Ganguly completed his maiden ton at Kolkata facing just 144 balls.

Pakistan continued to struggle for wickets as they aimed to crack the strong Laxman-Ganguy partnership. With Laxman completing his half-century and Ganguly standing tall at the other end, India continued to pile on the runs. Pakistan bowlers struggled to maintain a check on the free flowing Indian batsmen.

Local boy Ganguly smashed a quick fifty, his second ever on his home ground here at Eden Gardens. India continued to pile up the agony on Pak bowlers as the Prince of Kolkata joined the fifty runs club. To follow him soon was ‘Very very special’ Laxman, who completed his fifty facing just 80 balls.

Jaffer`s departure bought no respite to the injured Pakistan camp as the Ganugly Laxman continue to exploit the hapless Pak bowlers. Both hit several sweetly timed boundaries to sail India past the 400 run mark. With Ganguly nearing 50 and Laxman racing to a quick fire 26 runs, Pakistan woes continue.

After hitting an awe inspiring 202 runs, Waism Jaffer walked back to the pavilion to a standing ovation from the crowd here at the Eden Gardens. Pakistan who was at the receiving end of Jaffer`s play finally got some respite when Sohail Tanvir induced an edge from Jaffer on an away going delivery. This time Kamran Akmal made no mistakes and latched to a sitter to signal curtains for Jaffer.

Pakistan’s Danish Kaneria bowled the danger batsman Sachin Tendulkar just as he looked set to make a century. Tendulkar was done in by a gyrating googly and could not read the ball in time. He was clean bowled in the process at the score of 82 runs. The Indian team were 313 runs for the loss of 3 wickets with the Little Master’s departure.

Tendulkar and Jaffer had powered India beyond 300 run mark in the first innings of the second Test match at Eden Gardens. Tendulkar scored a swashbuckling half-century and proved to be the perfect accomplice to Jaffer, who hit a breathtaking 150 runs to put the home team in command over the bowling attack of Pakistan. India were comfortably placed at 306 runs for the loss of two wickets in the last session of the day’s play.

Rahul Dravid’s wicket came as the second jolt to the Indian campaign. He edged a delivery from Danish Kaneria to Kamran Akmal. This came after he smashed his 49th half-century on the first day of the second Test match here at Eden Gardens. The Indian scorecard read 138 runs for the loss of two wickets after his departure. The new batsman who came in to fill in the vacant spot left by Dravid was Sachin Tendulkar.

India had crossed the hundred run mark post lunch as Pakistan bowlers struggled to crack down the Jaffer-Dravid code. With the Indian opener Jaffer smashing 65 runs accompanied by Dravid`s 35, Pakistan bowlers looked desperate for a quick wicket to bring things under control on the first day of the second Test match. The Indian scorecard at lunch read 104 runs at the loss of one wicket.

Earlier, Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir claimed his first victim in the form of Dinesh Karthik by taking the opener down in the second over of the second Test match. Karthik who was given out cheaply in the first Test match at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi, continued to struggle against the Pak bowling attack as he was sent back to the pavilion after hitting a mere three runs.

India won the toss and opted to bat on the first day of the second Test match here at Eden Gardens on Friday. The injured Pak unit announced some last minute changes naming Younis Khan as the acting captain as Shoaib Malik injured his ankle while playing football. India went in with the same winning combination.

India 1st innings: W Jaffer c Kamran Akmal b Sohail Tanvir 202, KD Karthik c Younis Khan b Sohail Tanvir 1, R Dravid c Kamran Akmal b Danish Kaneria 50, SR Tendulkar b Danish Kaneria 82, SC Ganguly c Sohail Tanvir b Salman Butt 102, VVS Laxman not out 112, MS Dhoni not out 50 Extras: (b 8, lb 5, w 1, nb 3) 17 Total: (5 wickets dec; 152.5 overs; 666 mins) 616 (4.03 runs per over) FOW: 1-2, 2-138, 3-313, 4-375, 5-538 Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 24-2-84-0, Sohail Tanvir 39-6-166-2, Mohammad Sami 29-2-99-0, Danish Kaneria 50-7-194-2, Yasir Hameed 4-0-24-0, Salman Butt 6.5-0-36-1

Pakistan 1st innings: Salman Butt not out 26, Yasir Hameed lbw b Kumble 21, Younis Khan not out 3 Extras: 0 Total: (1 wicket; 16 overs) 50 (3.12 runs per over) FOW: 1-38 Bowling: Z Khan 1.2-0-2-0, MM Patel 3-0-22-0, Harbhajan Singh 6.4-2-14-0, A Kumble 5-1-12-1