Vangipurappu Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni completed centuries as India's batsmen racked up a huge first innings total against West Indies on the second day of the second Test at Eden Gardens Tuesday. The tourists then lost two quick wickets before bad light brought a premature end to the day's play to leave India firmly in the driving seat. India, opting to bat first after winning the toss, declared its innings at 631-7, 3.2 overs after tea, with Laxman (176) and Ravichandran Ashwin (four) at the crease. Laxman and Dhoni (144) added 224 runs for the seventh wicket to pile on the misery for the visitors, who are down 1-0 in the three-Test series. West Indies' problems were compounded when openers Adrian Barath and Kraigg Brathwaite were dismissed before bad light brought an abrupt close, 52 minutes before schedule, with the visitors reeling at 34-2. Barath (1) edged paceman Umesh Yadav to Virender Sehwag at slip while Brathwaite (17), dropped earlier by substitute Virat Kohli off off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, was given out caught at short leg off the same bowler. The 37-year-old Laxman, unbeaten on 73 overnight, reached his fifth century at Eden Gardens and 17th overall with a trademark on-driven boundary off West Indies captain Darren Sammy in the first session. Dhoni was twice caught behind off paceman Kemar Roach but on both occasions the deliveries were ruled no-balls. He edged Roach in the same fashion for the third time to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh after tea but this time the delivery was legitimate. Left-hander Yuvraj Singh looked uncomfortable during his 35-ball stay at the crease and was peppered with short-pitched deliveries by the West Indies pacemen, a bouncer from Fidel Edwards hitting him on his shoulder. He was finally out leg before wicket to Sammy for 25 after a few close shaves, bringing Dhoni to the crease.
