Dravid hits century while Tendulkar tops 10,000 runs

CALCUTTA, India, Wednesday (Reuters) India's Sachin Tendulkar became only the fifth batsman to complete 10,000 test runs and Rahul Dravid struck his 19th hundred on the first day of the second test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Dravid was out for 110 off the last ball as India reached 344 for six after captain Saurav Ganguly elected to bat first on his home ground.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria had Dravid caught behind to end his almost five-hour effort in sapping humidity as India lost four quick wickets in the evening session.

Dravid, 32, shared in a 122-run third wicket partnership with Tendulkar after adding 76 for the second with opener Virender Sehwag, who made an aggressive 81.

In an innings filled with vintage strokes, Dravid hit classy cover drives against erratic pace bowler Mohammad Sami and cut and drove leg spinner Danish Kaneria.

Dravid lofted a six over long-on against Kaneria, who grabbed six first innings wickets in the drawn Mohali test.

He reached his 100, driving Sami past cover and through midwicket for two consecutive fours. He hit 15 fours and a six in his 222-ball knock.

Tendulkar achieved the landmark of 10,000 runs when he flicked a single against medium-pacer Abdul Razzaq to reach 27 soon after tea.

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar, the first player to accumulate 10,000 runs, is the only other Indian to reach the milestone.

Tendulkar raised his bat and looked skywards as partner Rahul Dravid and the Pakistan players congratulated him.

The others in the 10,000 club are Australians Allan Border and Steve Waugh and Brian Lara of West Indies. The 31-year-old Tendulkar, playing his 122nd test, holds the records for runs and centuries in one-day cricket and shares the world best for the most test hundreds (34) with Gavaskar.

He fell six short of a 35th century in the first test against Pakistan at Mohali last week.

Tendulkar took 18 deliveries to get off the mark, but quickly settled down to play his patent drives and sweeps until he edged a cut against part-time leg-spinner Shahid Afridi behind the stumps for 52.

Razzaq then removed Ganguly (12) and Vangipurappu Laxman, for a first ball duck, off successive deliveries. Ganguly hit three quick fours before edging a wide ball to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Laxman was trapped leg before with a delivery which swung in late.

Sehwag had got India off to a flying start with an 80-run opening stand with Gautam Gambhir (29) against Pakistan's erratic new ball attack of Sami and left-arm Mohammad Khalil, playing only his second test.

Sehwag, top scorer with 173 in the Mohali test, looked set for another hundred until he miscued a lofted shot against Afridi and Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq took a well judged catch at deep extra cover.

Inzamam kept away from the field for most of the last two sessions after feeling dizzy due to the heat..

INDIA 1ST INNINGS:

V.Sehwag c Inzamam b Afridi             	 81
G.Gambhir lbw b Kaneria                 	 29
R.Dravid c Akmal b Kaneria             		110
S.Tendulkar c Akmal b Afridi            	 52
S.Ganguly c Akmal b Razzaq              	 12
V.Laxman lbw b Razzaq                    	 0
D.Karthik not out                       	 28
EXTRAS: (lb-11 b-2 nb-13 w-6)           	 32
TOTAL: (six wickets, 89.1 overs)       		344
To bat: I.Pathan, L.Balaji, Harbhajan Singh, A.Kumble.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-80 2-156 3-278 4-298 5-298 6-344.
Bowling: Sami 18-3-61-0 (nb-7), 
Khalil 11-3-39-0 (nb-1 w-1),
Kaneria 26.1-1-116-2 (nb-1), 
Razzaq 16-1-53-2 (nb-4), Afridi 18-0-62-2 (w-5).