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Rahul Dravid compiled a serene, yet commanding, 144 to lead India to a position of immense strength by lunch on the second day of the second Test in Kanpur. During his 28th century, Dravid overtook Allan Border's record of 11,174 Test runs to become the fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests.

The stand-out factor in Dravid's batting during this series has been his intent. He's been decisive, in defense and attack, and has been aggressively looking to score. Today he charged down the track, played gorgeous inside-out cover drives by stretching forward on that front foot, punched skillfully off the back foot, but what stood out was a delectable late cut against Ajantha Mendis. The ball was skidding towards off stump, Dravid checked his forward press, waited for the ball to arrive before opening the blade and gliding it past backward point. There was no violence, just pure timing, and the stroke captured the spirit of his innings. For major part of his career, Dravid has often been overshadowed by the stroke-makers around him expressing themselves. Not today.

Dravid seemed impossible to dismiss today, and when his end came, it was bizarre and against the run of play. VVS Laxman hit one hard back at the bowler Rangana Herath, who spilled the catch, and the ball fell on the stumps with Dravid out of the crease at the non-striker's end.

Dravid left after leading India's charge today and, in a reversal of their usual roles, was the dominant batsman in a 94-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar didn't hit a single boundary till his 87th delivery, when he pranced down the track to lift Mendis over long-off. a few balls later, however, he was dismissed trying to repeat the shot but couldn't clear mid-off. Credit must be given to Mendis for he had dragged back the length this time around.

For their part, it was a slightly better performance from Sri Lanka. Muttiah Muralitharan, who improved during the last session yesterday, was even better today. His flight was always there but today the loop and the dip gained potency. It might be too little and too late for the visitors, though, and India would have been lifted by the couple of balls from Murali that spun and bounced appreciably. Perhaps the pitch was showing some signs of life. Maybe it was just an oddity. Only time will tell.