Kolkata, Nov 14 (IANS): India seized the early initiative as their batsmen scored fluently to lay a solid foundation in the morning session on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens here Monday.
Electing to bat, the hosts reached 132 for one at lunch, with Gautam Gambhir (57, 87b, 7x4) and Rahul Dravid (33, 52 b, 6x4) in the middle, as the Caribbean bowlers failed to make any use of a wicket that had a sprinkling of grass and a fair amount of bounce.
Virender Sehwag (38, 33b, 8x4), was the only casualty, as he played across the line to an ordinary delivery from West Indies skipper Darren Sammy to finish in the hands of Adrian Barath at mid-wicket.
Seasoned openers Gambhir and Sehwag looked in rollicking form, but there were very few spectators to cheer the classy strokes that flowed from the willow at the coliseum-like stadium. Only about 4,000 spectators turned up, registering perhaps the lowest ever attendance for a Test match at the hallowed ground.
The duo seemed in total control from the outset, as they needed only 12.1 overs to canter to a 66-run partnership, that came to an end with Sehwag's dismissal soon after the drinks interval.
Sehwag was in his customary punishing mood, as he picked on Sammy, driving him past cover and point for two fours in the fourth over. Sammy was again taken to the cleaners in the 11th over, as Sehwag claimed a hat-trick of boundaries.
Dravid, who joined Gambhir after Sehwag's fall, executed some exquisite cover drives, making batting look very easy.
Gambhir also enjoyed himself, with a lofted stroke off Devendra Bishoo leaving the spectators mesmerised. The Delhi left-hander, who has not got a hundred in the last 12 Tests, completed his 17th 50 in 43 Tests, and looks set to break the jinx.
India fielded the same side that had done duty in the five-wicket victory in the opening Test at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla. The West Indies effected two changes -- pacer Kemar Roach came in for Ravi Rampaul, who is down with a stomach bug, while opening batsman Adrian Barath replaced Kieran Powell.