Rahul Dravid's 36th Test century helped put India in a strong position at stumps on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies, but Sachin Tendulkar's quest for his 100th international hundred was again put back on hold. Dravid made 119 while VVS Laxman (73 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (65) also made good contributions as India, leading 1-0 in the three-Test series, closed on 346 for five at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It might have been even better for the hosts but they lost Dravid and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma in the last two overs before the close as West Indies enjoyed a morale-boosting end to a tough day in the field. Dravid's century was his fourth in his last six Tests, but while reaching three figures has not been a problem for the 38-year-old recently, it has not been the same story for Tendulkar.

The "Little Master" has remained stuck on 99 international centuries since the World Cup in March, and his wait to reach his unprecedented milestone continues after he fell for 38 in the afternoon session. India made an impressive start after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss in perfect batting conditions, with Virender Sehwag in typically aggressive mood as he and Gambhir brought up their 50 partnership in the 11th over.

Sehwag had moved onto 38 from 32 balls when he became the first India wicket to fall, driving Darren Sammy  whose first three overs had gone for 29 runs – straight to short mid-wicket where Adrian Barath took a neat low catch. Dravid came in and made a fluent start, taking two from his first ball and guiding his third to the third-man boundary before taking three more fours from Sammy's next two overs. Gambhir reached his half-century, his first against the Windies, with a leg-side single off Marlon Samuels from his 78th delivery. However, the opener failed to turn that into three figures after falling in disappointing fashion when he slashed a Fidel Edwards delivery straight to Barath at short cover.

That dismissal brought Tendulkar to the crease and the 38-year-old began in steady fashion, gradually inching closer to that elusive century as he helped Dravid put on 56 runs for the third wicket. But it was not to be for Tendulkar in this innings as, just before the tea interval, he was caught by Marlon Samuels at midwicket off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo.

Despite the dismissal, India still held the upper hand and they cruised past 300 during a fourth-wicket stand of 140 between Dravid and Laxman. The experienced duo looked set to see India through to the close, but Dravid was left fuming with himself after playing on to part-time bowler Kraigg Brathwaite in the penultimate over of the day, having struck nine fours and two sixes in a 207-ball knock.

That was the West Indies teenager's first Test wicket, and left Dravid 21 runs short of becoming only the second player to reach 13,000 Test runs, after Tendulkar. The visitors took the new ball straight after Dravid's dismissal and they got another breakthrough almost immediately when Sharma edged his first ball, a rising delivery from Kemar Roach, through to Carlton Baugh, a wicket that proved the last action of the day.