Thaindian News

Kolkata, Nov 14 (IANS) Classy Rahul Dravid cracked a flawless hundred as India set themselves up for a big first innings total on day one of the second cricket Test against the West Indies here Monday.

Dravid (119; 207b, 295 mins, 9×4, 2×6) completed his 36th hundred in 159 Tests to pilot India to a confident 346/5 when stumps were drawn at the Eden Gardens, after Sachin Tendulkar’s (38) failure to get to his 100th international ton disappointed among the sparse crowd.

The stylish V.V.S.Laxman (73; 116 b, 143 mins, 5×4) was unconquered in the middle, with play being called off for the day when Yuvraj Singh stepped into the field just after the dismissal of night-watchman Ishant Sharma.

After India elected to bat, their star-studded top order played with finesse, laying a solid foundation centred around four good partnerships. All the top-order batsmen got runs, as the West Indies bowlers failed to make any use of a wicket that had a sprinkling of grass, and a fair amount of bounce.

The in-form Dravid, who got his fifth hundred of the calendar year, seemed poised for a big innings from the outset, as he galloped to 19 off 17 balls, quite unlike his watchful starts. Thereafter, he played a finely balanced innings, with some spectacular cover drives and dispatched Devendra Bishoo and Marlon Samuels for sixes.

He got to the three-figure mark - his fourth at the iconic ground - 79 minutes into the post tea session by stylishly sending Kemar Roach to the square-leg fence. The mark was achieved in 254 minutes, off 179 balls.

Part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite finally ousted Dravid for his maiden Test wicket when the batsman played underedged onto the stumps in the over before the stumps.

Dravid’s dismissal also brought to an end his 140-run fourth wicket stand with Laxman. The two, who had an epic partnership in India’s historic win over Australia at the same ground 10 years back, were together for 137 minutes.

In the morning, India seized the early initiative and reached 132/1 at lunch.

Seasoned openers Virender Sehwag 38 (33 b, 8×4) and Gautam Gambhir (103 b, 8×4) looked in rollicking form putting on 66 runs in only 12.1 overs, but there were very few to cheer the classy strokes that flowed from the willow at the coliseum-like stadium.

Sehwag was the only casualty in the morning as he played across the line to an ordinary stuff from West Indies skipper Darren Sammy to finish in the hands of Adrian Barath at mid wicket.

Gambhir also enjoyed himself, with a lofted stroke off Bishoo, leaving the spectators mesmerised.

The Delhi left-hander, who has not got a hundred in the last 12 Tests, completed his 17th 50 in 43 Tests, but fell in the post-lunch session to pacer Fidel Edwards, who is playing in his 50th Test match. Gambhir and Dravid put on 83 for the second wicket.

Tendulkar walked out to a rousing reception after Gambhir got out, but departed on 38 (71 balls, 5×4) after a 75-minute stay in the middle.

The batting genius, who earlier survived a strong leg before appeal off Bishoo while on 25, got out to an ordinary delivery from the same bowler. Tendulkar tried to pull the rank short ball that was turning away from him, and offered a simple catch to Samuels at mid wicket, as a hush descended on the stadium.

Tendulkar and Dravid added 56 for the third wicket.