2nd Test: Dravid's ton takes India to 346/5

Kolkata: Riding high on the platform set by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid hit his 36th century (119 off 207 balls) as India posted an imposing 346/5 on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.

Dravid, who came to the crease when Sehwag departed after scoring a whirlwind 38 off 33 balls, first stitched an 83-run partnership with Gambhir (65 off 103 balls) and then strung another century-stand (140) with VVS Laxman (73 off 116 balls), who remained not out at the end of day's play.

West Indies, who tried hard to contain the Indian batsmen throughout the day, got some reward at the fag end of the day when Dravid dragged on off the part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite and Ishant Sharma, too, departed as soon as he came on as a night-watchman.

People who thronged to watch Sachin Tendulkar scoring his 100th international ton went disappointed once again as the 38-year-old got out on 38.

Dravid hit nine crisp boundaries and two well-timed maximums in his unbeaten knock. Laxman, too, flicked many of the West Indies bowlers off his pads for five boundaries.

Dravid was also associated in partnerships of 83 for the second wicket with Gautam Gambhir (65) and of 56 for the third with Tendulkar (38), who remains stuck on 99 international centuries.

Tendulkar pulled a short delivery from Bishoo straight to Samuels at mid-wicket after surviving a close lbw appeal against the same bowler when on 25.

Tendulkar came in to bat in the second session, after the opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gambhir dominated proceedings to raise expectations of a big total.

Left-hander Gambhir completed his 17th half-century in 43 games, striking eight fours off 103 balls after ensuring a brisk start in the company of the big-hitting Sehwag.

Sehwag clobbered West Indies captain Darren Sammy for six of his eight fours during a 33-ball 38 but fell to the same bowler when he was caught by Adrian Barath at short mid-wicket.

Sehwag, who scored 55 in both innings of the previous Test, smashed two fours off pace bowler Sammy's first over and then three consecutive ones later in his innings: over mid-on, through the covers and through mid-wicket.

With Sehwag dominating the bowling, India raced to the 50-run mark in only 10.2 overs, the opening stand of 66 ending with the first delivery after the first drinks break.

Gambhir was out a little later to a harmless delivery from Fidel Edwards, jabbing it to Barath at short cover, giving the fielder his second easy catch of the day.