Ganguly and Pathan shared a superb seventh-wicket partnership

Sourav Ganguly scored a maiden double ton and Irfan Pathan his first hundred as India piled on the runs on day two of the third Test against Pakistan.

Ganguly hit 239 and shared a 178-run seventh-wicket stand with Pathan (102) to strengthen the home side's grip on the match after resuming on 365-5.

Yasir Arafat (5-161) and Danish Kaneria shared the last five wickets to finally wrap up the India innings for 626.

Anil Kumble then removed Yasir Hameed (19) to leave Pakistan 86-1 at stumps.

The veteran spinner fired in a sharp, full delivery to trap the opener lbw to end a first-wicket stand of 59.

Salman Butt remained, though, and he completed his half century before the close of play, with Younus Khan on seven off 33 balls.

It was a decent start for the tourists, but India will be far the happier side thanks to Ganguly and Pathan's excellent stand.

606: DEBATE A classy innings from Ganguly when India were in a precarious position at lunch on the first day daemonbad

"This is one of my best innings, it's very satisfying to make a double century," former skipper Ganguly said. "I'm not captain anymore. There is less to worry about and I can focus on my game."

And the veteran insisted India would be able to push home their advantage, saying: "The pitch is going to keep low and we're in with a chance.

Resuming on 125, Ganguly took his overnight sixth-wicket stand with Dinesh Karthik (24) to 66 before Karthik became the fourth of debutant pacer Yasir Arafat's five victims in the innings, caught behind.

That brought Pathan, in his first Test in over a year, to the crease and the pair scored runs at a blistering pace as the hosts ran up a first-innings total of over 600 for a second successive match.

Pathan, in particular, was in explosive form, striking four sixes and 10 fours in his 133-ball knock as last man Ishant Sharma held up his end to give the all-rounder time to complete a maiden century.

India are 1-0 up in the three-match series after winning the opening Test by six wickets in New Delhi.