Sourav gets over Eden jinx; Jaffer hits 202

Nothing else mattered except one line of statistics — no act more relevant than that jump in the air.

Nothing else mattered except one line of statistics — no act more relevant than that jump in the air. It took 234 minutes, 144 balls and 14 boundaries — and the moment of Sourav Ganguly’s long awaited triumph at home arrived. A gentle push towards mid-off, and a quick single — and Ganguly had scored a century, his first at Eden Gardens.

Number 13 was definitely not unlucky. After 12 instances of low scores came today’s ton and it was difficult to say who was happier — the Eden crowd or Ganguly himself.

And it proved to be the star attraction in this rather lop-sided contest that the second Test between India and Pakistan is turning out to be.

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And then there was Wasim Jaffer’s double hundred, VVS Laxman’s hundred, MS Dhoni’s fifty — all adding lustre to the glittering Indian total of 616/5 declared.

It seems the purpose of this Test match has been already served. Ganguly, Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid all have allowed their bat to do the talking here, maybe for the last time at Eden.

Anil Kumble is also on that veterans’ list who may be playing his last match here, and the Indian skipper has already made a statement to the opposition camp, trapping Yasir Hameed for 21 as Pakistan ended the day at 50/1 — still requiring another 367 runs to avoid a follow-on. Salman Butt was batting on 26 and Younis Khan was keeping him company on 3.

Bending his back a few times, Shoaib Akhtar was marginally better than yesterday in performance and in health. But the Indian total just grew and grew till they went past the 600 mark against an attack that bowled a negative line, kept a defensive field and waited for the declaration to come.

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It came after 68.2 overs today, and India had added 264 runs to their overnight score. Wasim Jaffer required five more balls before he started off the first round of celebrations. A cover drive and a square cut off Shoaib Akhtar, separated by a dot ball, brought the eight more runs that were needed for his double-century.

But then, after just two more, he edged one from Sohail Tanvir to call it a day. The Pakistan left-arm seamer again got a wicket again off the first delivery of the day, like yesterday, but then faded away in a similar fashion.

Laxman then walked in to lend a steady hand to Ganguly. The Prince of Kolkata reached his half century off 72 balls as India took lunch at 449/4. Post lunch, they looked to be in control against Danish Kaneria and Tanvir. And both played some astounding drives off the front foot. Ganguly was a touch lucky to have escaped a snorter from Akhtar as Yasir Hameed at gully couldn’t latch on to the catch to terminate his innings at 63. The former Indian skipper, however, erased that black mark with some of his trademark square-drives to lend quality to the emotional value of his knock.

Laxman, with his usual wrist-work and firm pushes down the ground, reached his 50 off 80 balls with eight boundaries. They completed their 100 run-partnership and soon thereafter Laxman walked upto Ganguly again, this time to congratulate him — on his first century against Pakistan — as the near capacity crowd gave a standing ovation.

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Ganguly, however, wasn’t there with Laxman as he touched down on his hundred. His first attempt to play a lofted shot ended the 163-run fifth wicket partnership with a catch straight to Tanvir off Salman Butt.

As India were contemplating declaration, Laxman took his time to reach his century and Dhoni played along. Laxman nearly walked out at 102, stumped, only to realise that the wrong message was splashed on the electronic scoreboard. He returned, with a bemused smile, to watch Dhoni hit 6, 4 and 4. With Dhoni reaching his 50, and Laxman unbeaten on 112, India declared an hour after tea.

For Pakistan, only Kaneria ‘made’ his 50 today but his marathon bowling effort that cost 194 spoke more about India’s efficiency.

Scoreboard

India 1st innings

W Jaffer c Akmal b Tanvir 202

D Kaarthick c Younis Khan b Tanvir 1

R Dravid c Akmal b Kaneria 50

S Tendulkar b Kaneria 82

S Ganguly c Tanvir b Butt 102

V V S Laxman not out 112

MS Dhoni not out 50

Extras: (8b, 5lb, 1w, 3nb) 17

TOTAL: (for 5 wkts dec, 152.5 overs) 616

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-138, 3-313, 4-375, 5-538

Bowling: Akhtar 24-2-84-0, Tanvir 39-6-166-2, Sami 29-2-99-0, Kaneria 50-7-194-2 ,Hameed 4-0-24-0, Butt 6.5-0-36-1

Pakistan 1st innings

S Butt not out 26

Y Hameed lbw Kumble 21

Y Khan not out 3

Extras: 0

TOTAL: (for 1 wkt, 16 overs) 50

Fall of Wickets: 1-38

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Bowling: Khan 1.2-0-2-0, Patel 3-0-22-0, Singh 6.4-0-14-0, Kumble 5-1-12-1

DAY II DATA

• India’s 616/5, scored at Eden Gardens on Saturday, was their highest ever total against Pakistan at home

• Wasim Jaffer (202) became the fifth Indian batsman to score a double hundred against Pakistan in Tests. He also became the eighth Indian to score two or more double centuries in Test cricket

By S PERVEZ QAISER