India's Saurav Ganguly celebrates after completing his century against Pakistan during the second day of the second Test in Kolkata yesterday.- Reuters

KOLKATA, India (Reuters):

INDIA RAN up an imposing first-innings total of 616 for five declared on the second day and grabbed an early wicket to take a grip on the second Test against Pakistan yesterday.

Vangipurappu Laxman and Saurav Ganguly joined Wasim Jaffer in the list of centurions before Anil Kumble trapped Yasir Hameed lbw to leave the visitors at 50 for one at stumps.

Opener Salman Butt and stand-in captain, Younis Khan ,were at the crease on 26 and three, respec-tively, when poor light stopped play.

Laxman struck 112 not out after Ganguly followed Jaffer's double hundred with his first century in his home ground to pile on the agony for Pakistan.

Second double hundred

Left-hander Ganguly cracked 102 and shared in a 163-run stand for the fifth wicket with Laxman after opener Jaffer (202) fell shortly after reaching his double century.

Jaffer, on 192 overnight, struck two boundaries off fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar to achieve the second double hundred of his career in style after the hosts resumed at 352 for three.

Jaffer, who shared in two century partnerships on Friday, was caught by Kamran Akmal off Sohail Tanvir's first ball of the day.

Ganguly and Laxman made no mistakes as they raced to their 14th and 11th centuries respectively.

Nippy Tanvir troubled Laxman with his deliveries early on but the batsman soon got on top on a placid Kolkata pitch that offered little assistance to seam bowlers.

Mohammad Sami, starting the Test after a chest infection, showed immense will in toiling hard while Shoaib, who was sent to hospital with a fever before the Test, struggled through 15 overs yesterday.

Studded with boundaries

Ganguly, playing in his 98th Test, drove fluently and punched hard for his first Test century at his home ground, and his first against Pakistan. His 156-ball knock was studded with 14 boundaries.

Laxman, who scored 72 not out in his team's six-wicket victory in the first Test, struck 15 boundaries, the pick of which was a delectable flick off Shoaib through mid-wicket.

Ganguly reached his century, also his first against Pakistan, with a single past mid-off off legspinner Danish Kaneria, who bowled tirelessly as a swelling Eden Gardens crowd roared in celebration.

Former captain Ganguly was caught by Tanvir giving part-time spinner Butt the charge.

Laxman reached his century with a single off Shoaib during his 78-run stand for the unfinished sixth wicket with Mahendra Dhoni, who blasted 50.