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 here on Friday.

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 the 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 (one).

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, hospitalised 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, and 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 wicket-keeper 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.

India's batting was entertaining throughout the day, with Jaffer, Tendulkar and Dravid all making merry. Runs came thick and fast as the hosts scored more than 100 in each session.

Former captain Dravid was dismissed just when he looked set to play a long innings. He shook his head in disbelief when adjudged caught behind off Kaneria by West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove.

Tendulkar was bowled off a Kaneria googly, but not before putting his team in a commanding position. He struck 12 fours in his 47th half-century, completing 1,000 runs against Pakistan in the process.

Pakistan celebrated for a brief period when Tanvir struck with his first delivery to dismiss Karthik, who was caught by stand-in captain Younis Khan at second slip.

Younis led the side in place of Shoaib Malik, who failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained while playing football after the first Test in New Delhi on Monday. Malik was replaced with Faisal Iqbal.

India lead 1-0 in the three-Test series following their six-wicket victory in the opening match.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)