Suresh Raina Rescues India With Fighting Ton in Cardiff
Suresh Raina's hundred came off 74 balls and contained 12 fours and three sixes. It was his fourth ODI century and it helped India to a massive 133-run win.
India's middle-order ODI specialist Suresh Raina once again delivered when it mattered with a blistering century. In the second game of the five-match series, Raina came in when India were 110 for three and blasted his way to a 74-ball century. It was his fourth ODI hundred and first in England - eventually helping India to a 133-run triumph. (Scorecard | Blog | Report)
After sent in to bat, India were in trouble early when Chris Woakes struck a double blow to remove Shikhar Dhawan (11) and Virat Kohli (0) in the 8th over. Raina walked after Ajinkya Rahane fell for 41 off 47 balls after adding 91 runs for the third wicket with Rohit Sharma. Raina had barely settled down when Rohit departed for 52 and England were moving in for the kill. (ODIs a Good Format to Come Back into Form: Dhoni)
Raina launched a counterattack and hit a flurry of boundaries. With skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for company, Raina set about increasing India's run-rate as the English bowlers wilted under pressure. His aggressive strokeplay got him to fifty from 49 balls with India at 178/4 in the 38th over. He showed no sign of letting up after that and marched on towards a three-figure score. India were 267 for four in the 46th over when Raina got his century with a single.
Raina's century was punctuated with 12 fours and three sixes. This century was his first since 2010 when he hit 106 against Sri Lanka in Dhaka. This proved to be a match-winning knock.
He finally fell for exactly 100 off 75 balls when his aerial shot off Woakes was grabbed by James Anderson. India lost their 5th wicket at 276. Raina and Dhoni shared a partnership of 144 runs. India finally ended their innings at 304/6 and England were set to get 295 from 47 overs after rain delayed the start of their innings.
England collapsed to 161 all out as Ravindra Jadeja spun himself figures of 4 for 28. The 133-run win gave India a 1-0 win with three games left to play.