Raina joins T20 hundred club

Gros Islet, Saint Lucia:

Suresh Raina on Sunday became the first Indian batsman and third overall to crack a Twenty20 international century after making a breezy 60-ball 101 against South Africa in a World Cup match here.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum of New Zealand are the other two batsmen to have scored a century in the shortest format of the game.

Gayle's 57-ball 117 against South Africa had made him the first to achieve the rare distinction in 2007 and then the Kiwi joined the West Indian after hitting an unbeaten 116 off 56 balls against Australia earlier this year.

Raina's blistering knock, which helped India pile up a intimidating 186 for five, was bejewelled with nine fours and five sixes.

"It's a nice feeling. So far this has been a good year for me, I am hitting the ball well. We had a good partnership (with Yuvraj Singh)," Raina said after the innings.

"I was looking to hit the ball straight but was not playing any pre-planned strokes. If you play 40 to 50 balls and you can score 80 to 85 runs.

"I had batted well in the IPL and knew that number three is crucial (position) and if you bat well, sure you can get a hundred," he said.

Twenty20 international century-makers (score, player, team, opposition, ground, date):

117 Chris Gayle WIS v RSA, Johannesburg, Sep 11 2007

116 no Brendon McCullum NZL v AUS, Christchurch, Feb 28 2010

101 Suresh Raina IND v RSA, Gros Islet, May 02 2010