Kolkata Test: India in position of ascendancy

Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman cracked fluent tons to propel India to its highest-ever total on home soil against Pakistan and helped the hosts take command of the second Test with a mammoth first innings total of 616/5 on Day 2 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Local hero Ganguly (102) shook off his home ground jinx to get to his first three figure score on the Eden Gardens while also partnering stylish batsman Laxman (112 not out) to a 163-run fifth wicket stand, before skipper Anil Kumble declared the Indian innings, an hour into the post tea session.

India's previous highest total against Pakistan at home was 539/9 at Madras (now Chennai) in 1960-61.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni also contributed to India's total, remaining unbeaten on 50 when the declaration occured.

In reply, Pakistan was 50/1 in 16 overs when stumps were drawn early with bad light stopping the play.

Opener Yaseer Hameed was foxed by Anil Kumble's flipper as early as in the eighth over to demoralise the visiting side in chase of the huge score. Pakistan is struggling in Tests after one-day series defeat against India. The hosts are already 1-0 up in the three-Test match series.

Salman Butt was batting 26 and Younis Khan was on 3 at close.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 352 for 3, Indian batsmen continued to pile on the misery on the tourists, with Wasim Jaffer achieving a well-deserved double century in the morning.

Stand-in skipper Younus Khan was at his wit's end to check the marauding Indian willowers on the dry track, as the visitors' partially fit pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar could manage to bowl only in short spells. The Indians maintained an impressive run-rate of above four throughout its innings.