Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni congratulates teammate V.V.S Laxman for scoring a century against West Indies. Photo / AP
Centuries from VVS Laxman and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni put India firmly in control of the second test against West Indies overnight after two days at Eden Gardens.
Laxman, 176 not out, and Dhoni, on 144, shared 224 runs for the seventh wicket before India declared its first innings at 631-7 just after tea. West Indies was then reduced to 34-2 when bad light forced an early close to play.
West Indies trailed by 597 with eight wickets in hand after losing both openers cheaply.
Pace bowler Umesh Yadav dismissed Adrian Barath for 1 with the total at 3 and offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin removed Kraig Brathwaite for 17 to have the visitors reeling at 30-2.
West Indies manager Richie Richardson said the team should not lose hope.
"It's a very good wicket and we have just got to go and bat the same way," Richardson said. "The Indian bowlers are going to put pressure on us but we have the ammunition to go out there and bat for the next two days."
India is looking to clinch the three-match series after winning the opening test by five wickets.
The first-innings total was the second-highest score for India against West Indies, only 13 short of its record 644-7 declared at Kanpur in 1979.
Dhoni scored 116 of his runs in the second session and his 175-ball innings contained 10 boundaries and five sixes - including two in one over off Kraigg Braithwaite. Laxman stroked 12 fours and faced 280 balls.
Dhoni reached his century with a single to long-off from Braithwaite, for his fifth test hundred and the first in 21 months since a 132 not out against South Africa at the same venue in February 2010.
Dhoni showed his intent to speed up the run-rate as he often stepped out to both pace bowlers and spinners.
But he benefited twice from no balls, getting reprieves against Roach. Dhoni was caught by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh while attempting a drive on 13, and again when he slashed at a good-length delivery on 16.
Roach finally got Dhoni when he edged a ball pitched around the off stump and was caught by Baugh.
Dhoni became India's third century-maker in the innings after Rahul Dravid (119) and Laxman, who achieved his 17th hundred in the first session.
Laxman's fifth century at Eden Gardens tied former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin's record.
"It is always a special feeling playing at this venue," Laxman said. "Eden Gardens is a great place to play cricket, especially with all the spectators here, even though there are not many this time."
Laxman, who resumed on 73 in an overnight total of 346-5, saw off the early threat of the second new ball and completed his century with a four off pace bowler Darren Sammy.
Laxman, who had put on 140 for the fourth wicket with Dravid, continued with Dhoni and played some fine shots on either side of the wicket.
"You get value for your shots here (because of the pace of the outfield)," Laxman said. "It is a good test wicket like it should be in India. It may be difficult to play spin on the last day and we should win if we bowl in the right areas.
"I think this was an important knock from me because it came soon after the tour of England (where India was blanked 4-0 in tests). My innings in New Delhi (58 not out in the second innings) was also important because we won there."
India lost the wicket of Yuvraj Singh in the first session when he was trapped lbw by Sammy for 25 with a delivery that came in sharply and rapped his pads.
Yuvraj, who was instrumental in India winning this year's World Cup, struggled against the seaming ball and failed to build his case for a permanent spot in the test squad.
- AP
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