Kolkata: Rahul Dravid cracked a luminous 119 to put India on course for a big total on the opening day of the Secant Test match West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The 38-year-old batsman hit two sixes and nine fours in his 36th Test hundred and the fifth of the year, as the hosts reach 346-5 in their first innings at stumps later than winning the toss on a good bat pitch. Only India's Sachin Tendulkar (51), South African Jacques Kallis (40) and Australian Ricky Ponting (39) have score more Test centuries than Dravid. India lead 1-0 in the three-Test series follows their five-wicket win in the opening match in New Delhi.
Dravid not at all looked in danger in his 207-ball knock, impress with his shot-selection during his long stay at the fold to put India in a sturdy position with three precious partnerships. He additional 83 runs for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir (65), 56 used for the next with Sachin Tendulkar and 140 for the fourth wicket with VVS Laxman, who was winning with a solid 73 when bad light closed play.
Dravid finished his hundred when he bowed a no-ball from paceman Kemar Roach at the back square-leg for a four before inside-edging unpaid spinner Kraigg Brathwaite's freedom on to his stumps in the day's last but one over. India lost one more wicket when nightwatchman Ishant Sharma was caught following off Roach. Laxman, who complete an unbeaten 58 in the last Test, has so far hit five fours in his second succeeding half-century.
Tendulkar, who wants just one hundred to entire an unprecedented 100th international century, had been batting self-assuredly before falling for 38, pulling leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo to Marlon Samuels at mid-wicket. Dravid sustained to bat contentedly against both pace and spin, lofting Bishoo over long-off and part-time spinner Samuels over long-on for sixes.Tendulkar, who has also scored 48 hundreds in one-day internationals, look in brilliant form as he turned Fidel Edwards to fine-leg for his first four and then throng Roach through the covers for one more boundary.
He survive a convinced appeal for leg-before on 25 while attempt to sweep Bishoo before being dismiss by the same bowler in the daylight session, much to the displeasure of nearly 10,000 audience. The West Indies struggle for success on a pitch which had small in it for the bowlers, with seamer Darren Sammy, Edwards, Bishoo, Roach and Brathwaite each taking one wicket.Gambhir fell to a loose shot, powerful an Edwards release straight to Adrian Barath at short cover after addition eight runs to his lunch score of 57. He hit eight fours in his 17th half-century in 43 Tests.
India got off to a frozen start as Gambhir and forceful Virender Sehwag (38) put on 66 in 12.1 overs for the opening wicket. Sehwag played some beautiful shots against the West Indies pace attack, beating eight fours in his brisk 33-ball knock before driving Sammy at once to Barath at short mid-wicket.
