By Qaiser Mohammad Ali, IANS
Kolkata : Showing impeccable temperament and displaying classic strokeplay, Wasim Jaffer scored his fifth Test century as India ended the opening day of the second cricket Test against Pakistan at 352 for three wickets here Friday. Jaffer was involved in century partnerships with old warhorses Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.
Jaffer (192, 366 minutes, 255 balls, 32x4s), Tendulkar (82, 146 minutes, 109 balls, 12x4s) and Dravid (50, 171 minutes, 117 balls, 7x4s) completely dominated the Pakistani bowling attack on a perfect batting track at the Eden Gardens.
At stumps, Jaffer was eight short of what would be his second double century while former captain and local boy Sourav Ganguly was on 17 (41 minutes, 25 balls, 3x4s).
Jaffer and Ganguly have raised 39 for the fourth wicket and are looking to make matters worse for Pakistan Saturday.
Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria looked the most effective bowler and he ended with two wickets for 126 runs after India captain Anil Kumble won the toss and decided to bat first.
Pakistan, led by Younis Khan in the absence of regular captain Shoaib Malik, who pulled out with an injured ankle, also fielded poorly with the ball slipping between the legs of the players often.
Jaffer’s opening partner Dinesh Karthik (1) failed for the third time in two matches, and now his position for third and final Test in Bangalore is in doubt.
Karthik, who scored 0 and 9 in the first Test in Delhi, pushed at an away going delivery from left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir and Younis took a low catch at second slip.
Jaffer, on the other end, looked in great nick in forging a 136-run partnership with Dravid for the second wicket to put India on a high road to a formidable total.
Jaffer, playing the 44th innings of his 24th Test, was flawless. He batted with assurance and executed shots all round the wicket. He was particularly severe on Tanvir as he hammered him for 18 boundaries.
Jaffer and Dravid, both solid Test-match batsmen, pulverised the ineffective attack that was further depleted with Shoaib Akhtar unable to produce his wonted pace.
The Mumbai batsman, watched by his elated wife Ayesha, completed his century after 212 minutes (150 balls, 18x4s), his first against Pakistan.
Dravid, who scored 38 and 34 in the first Test, came good at one of his favourite grounds. The former India captain, drove and pulled with nonchalance as the sporting crowd cheered him on.
Dravid was finally dismissed in dubious circumstances as he tried to drive legspinner Kaneria and failed to connect. Both Kaneria and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal went up in appeal for a catch behind and umpired Billy Doctrove agreed with them. TV replays showed that Dravid might have been unlucky. A disappointed Dravid walked back shaking his head.
Tendulkar, too, looked in form, executing shots on both sides of the wicket with ease and assurance. Durin his knock, the maestro completed 1,000 runs against Pakistan. It was the 27th innings of his 18th Test against the neighbouring nation. He eventually fell to Kaneria, flummoxed by a googly.
Tendulkar and Jaffer were concerned in a 175-run stand for the third wicket.
The Pakistani attack simply wilted in the face of the onslaught of the Indian batsmen. Things have come to such a pass that in the last session, Tanvir bowled spinners.
Gamble of playing Shoaib, who was down with chest infection since the Delhi Test, backfired and he bowled nine overs in three spells was hardly the inspiration the Pakistanis looked for from him.
Pakistan media manger Ehsan Malik said Shoaib was included after a fitness test and on his insistence.
Pakistan also missed injured pacer Umar Gul, whose back problem resurfaced in Kolkata after he raised hopes of playing Wednesday. On Thursday, however, his back pain recurred and he is now being sent back home for further treatment.
Gul’s replacement Yasir Arafat, a pace bowling all-rounder, arrived at the ground just 15 minutes before the match via Dubai. He was, however, not included in the eleven as.
SCOREBOARD
Day One, Second Test, India-Pakistan, Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India (1st innings):
Wasim Jaffer batting 192
Dinesh Karthik c Younis b Tanveer 1
Rahul Dravid c Akmal b Kaneria 50
Sachin Tendulkar b Kaneria 82
Sourav Ganguly batting 17
Extras: (byes 4, leg byes 3, no balls 3) 10
Total: (for three wickets in 84.3 overs) 352
Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Karthik, 1.1 overs), 2-138 (Dravid, 40.1), 3-313 (Tendulkar, 75.3)
Bowling:
Shoaib Akhtar 9-1-29-0
Sohail Tanvir 24-3-118-1 (1nb)
Mohammad Sami 18.3-1-56-0 (2nb)
Danish Kaneria 30-3-126-2
Yasir Hameed 3-0-16-0
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa) and Billy Doctrove (West Indies)
Third umpire: Amiesh Saheba (India)
Fourth umpire: K.G. Laxminarayan (India)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)