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Jaffer makes merry as Pakistanis toil

India's Wasim Jaffer plays a stroke during the first day of the second Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Wasim Jaffer closed in on 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 yesterday.

The opener gave a superb exhibition of strokeplay to make an unbeaten 192 for his fifth hundred after India elected to bat on a flat track at 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 after the second-over dismissal of Dinesh Karthik (1).

Sourav Ganguly was batting on 17 when bad light stopped play.

Jaffer reached his hundred with an aggressive shot, punching leg-spinner Danish Kaneria through the covers for his 18th boundary. He has so far struck 32 fours in his 255-ball knock.

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.

Akhtar, hospitalized on Tuesday for a chest infection, hardly looked at his best in short spells. 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 along with Kaneria were unable to maintain pressure on Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid on a first-day pitch having neither pace nor turn.

Jaffer, who scored a half-century in the last match, looked in good form from the beginning as he drove, cut and flicked with authority. He severely punished Tanvir during his attractive knock, hammering the bowler for 18 fours.

Tanvir and Kaneria have already conceded more than 100 runs.

Worse still for Pakistan, they failed to cash in on a chance that came their way when wicketkeeper 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.
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