It was a totally an Indian outing at the Kolkatta, Eden garden stadium where the batsman were slashing the ball across the field on the first day of the second test match played against the West Indies. Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first, when India got a good start by the openers and then Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman (73 not out) continued their love affair with their favourite Eden Gardens track as their 140-run partnership put India in a commanding position of 346 for five at close. For most of the day, the West Indies struggled to break through on a track which had nothing to offer to their bowlers, but claimed a couple of wickets towards the end of the day.

It was another day of failure of expectations of the crowds. Just when the crowd at Eden Gardens started swelling up in the hope of Sachin Tendulkar slamming his 100th ton, the maestro again fell to Devendra Bishoo leaving them disappointed at 38.

Dravid struck a classy 119 before departing in the penultimate over. Dravid said the secret of their (with Laxman) chemistry lay in the long time that they have spent together in the Indian team. Dravid crossed the 950-run mark after making his fifth century of the year, and 36th of his career.  Dravid said `I have worked with Coach Duncan Fletcher a little bit. He has given me a couple of suggestions which have worked so far. He has been a great help. I think it is good to have someone like Duncan in the dressing room because he reads the game quite well.’

“I think the two late wickets will help us bounce back and keep the series alive, says  West Indies coach Ottis Gibson. Part-time spinner Kraigg Brathwaite snared centurion Rahul Dravid in the penultimate over, while Kemar Roach - bowling with the new ball - saw the back of night-watchman Ishant Sharma in the unfinished last over on day one of the Eden Gardens Test.

Aiming to consolidate on the 1-0 lead in the three Test rubber, MS Dhoni's men would like to win this one more comprehensively after the first Test at Kotla saw fluctuating fortunes on the first two days.