IPL 7: Suresh Raina Praises Chennai Super Kings Bowlers for Setting The Tone In Run Chase

Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina, who cracked an unbeaten 33-ball 54 to help Chennai Super Kings booked a berth in the second IPL qualifier, credited the bowlers for curtailing Mumbai Indians and setting the tone for the run chase.(CSK vs MI: How it Happened | Match Report)

After a great start, Mumbai Indians lost wickets in the middle and eventually could only post 173 for eight.

"We bowled really well, especially Ashish Nehra, Ishwar (Pandey), (Ravichandran) Ashwin, (Ravindra) Jadeja. I thought they are going to score 200 but in between (Kieron) Pollard, (Lendl) Simmons and Rohit (Sharma) got out. I think they (bowlers) set the tone for us," Raina said at the post match conference after Chennai's seven-wicket win over Mumbai at the Brabourne Stadium here last night. (Mumbai Indians will take away lot of positives from IPL 7: Rohit Sharma)

Chennai comfortably chased down the target with eight balls to spare as Suresh Raina (54 not out) and David Hussey (40 not out) shared an unbeaten 89-run stand for the fourth wicket. (Mumbai Indians Thoroughly Outplayed by Chennai Super Kings, Says John Wright)

"Me and (David) Hussey, we batted really well. Faf (du Plessis) and (Dwayne) Smith had a very good partnership in the starting overs. That is why we won the game," he said.

The 27-year old said his team would be looking to give its best against Kings XI Punjab in the second qualifier to make the finals.

"I think it was a good win (last night) but still we need to play really well against Kings XI Punjab and hopefully we will do well against them," he said.

The Uttar Pradesh cricketer, who is the only one to score 400 runs in every IPL season, said he has learnt a lot playing alongside former Australian greats Michael Hussey and Matthew Hayden, and from his Chennai coach Stephen Fleming.

"In batting, you have to keep improving your shots. You have to execute really well. At the same time you need to back your strength. I think over the years, I have learnt a lot from Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming. I have played with them in the last seven years," he said.