India's run-riot with Jaffer on unbeaten 192:
Wasim Jaffer gave a superb exhibition of strokeplay to near his second double-century as India exposed Pakistan's bowling limitations to reach a healthy 352-3 on the opening day of the second Test here on Friday. India won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track at the Eden Gardens.
The 29-year-old Jaffer added 136 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (50) and 175 for the next with Sachin Tendulkar (82) to put his team on course for a big total . Dinesh karthik was out early scoring one run in the very secong over of the day.
Sourav Ganguly was batting on 17 when bad light stopped play. Pakistan, grappling with injuries and illness to key players on Thursday, went into the match with four specialist bowlers but their gamble with semi-fit fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar backfired. He bowled four overs in the morning, two in the afternoon and three in the evening without taking a wicket.
Pacemen Mohammad Sami and Sohail Tanvir, and Kaneria were unable to maintain pressure on Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid on a first-day pitch having neither pace nor turn. Worse still for Pakistan, they failed to cash in on a chance that came their way when wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal dropped Tendulkar on 28 off Sami in the first over after the tea-break. With the Pakistani attack lacking penetration, Tanvir was asked to bowl left-arm spin in the last session but Jaffer and Tendulkar continued to gather runs with ease.
India's batting was entertaining throughout the day, with Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid all making merry. Runs came thick and fast as the hosts scored more than 100 in each session. Dravid shook his head in disbelief when adjudged caught behind off Kaneria by West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove.
Younis Khan is leading the side in place of Shoaib Malik, who failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained while playing football after the first Test in New Delhi on Monday. Malik was replaced with Faisal Iqbal. India lead 1-0 in the three-Test series following their six-wicket victory in the opening match.
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