By David Ornstein

Ganguly salutes the Eden Gardens crowd upon reaching his century

India posted their highest ever home total against Pakistan to take control of the second Test in Calcutta.

Opener Wasim Jaffer (202) moved from 192 to his second Test double century before edging Sohail Tanvir behind.

Sourav Ganguly (102), VVS Laxman (112 no) and Mahendra Dhoni (50no) then piled on the agony for the tourists before India declared on 616-5.

In reply, Pakistan reached 50-1 off 16 overs, losing Yasir Hameed lbw to India captain Anil Kumble for 21.

Kumble will be delighted with the way his batsmen took advantage of a slow pitch which began to break up towards the end of their innings.

That played into the hands of the home spinners and Kumble duly made the breakthrough before stumps.

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For the visitors it compounded a day of toil, in which they took just three wickets in as many sessions.

Jaffer finally nicked Tanvir's first delivery to Kamran Akmal in the second over to fall 10 short of his career-best 212.

And Pakistan's stand-in captain Younus Khan, boosted by the improved health of pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami, had good reason to believe his side had clawed their way back into the Test.

But any joy was short-lived as Ganguly and Laxman effectively batted them out of the game.

Former skipper Ganguly, 35, has come in for some intense criticism recently but he responded with a 14th Test century, his first against Pakistan and maiden ton at his home ground Eden Gardens.

"When you grow up in a city and spend all your life playing on a ground you want to get a hundred there and I'm happy that it's come," said Ganguly.

Pitches that just suit batting, that's not terrific cricket, is it? Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson

Laxman struck 14 fours before pulling Shoaib to deep square-leg for his 11th Test century and first against India's neighbours.

The right-hander was at the centre of controversy soon after when he was stumped by Akmal off the bowling of Kaneria and the third umpire gave him out, only to earn a reprieve while on his way to the pavilion.

Devoid of ideas and reliant on the wicket's widening cracks for a breakthrough, Malik's men appeared to be hanging on for the declaration.

Dhoni took advantage with a quick-fire half century before Kumble called his men in and trapped Hameed right in front of the stumps before bad light stopped play.

Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson was left to lament the state of the wicket.

"Pitches that just suit batting, that's not terrific cricket, is it?" said the former Australia fast bowler.

"Cricket is all about balance, balance between bat and ball.