Raina Scored 4th ODI Hundred
The Indian middle order batsman Suresh Raina scored his 4th One Day International hundred yesterday playing in the second game of the One Day series against England at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
The left hander from Uttar Pradesh changed the whole match with his outrageous batting. Before his arrival there at the wicket, India was struggling to maintain a run rate of even 4, but, as soon as he walked in, the ball started travelling outside the fence and the pressure was back on the visitors.
Fortune favoured Raina at the start though as he got a few cheeky boundaries to get himself going. He survived a very close LBW shout as well while sweeping Tredwell, but, soon, he found his feet and smashed the English attack everywhere.
It was an inning of authority by Raina. He made a statement there. There were doubts over his credentials as a One Day Player away from the subcontinent and he certainly proved a thing or two.
The English side, as expected, tried to pepper him with the bumpers, but, to his credit, Raina left them very well for the first half of his inning. However, once he got set, he didn’t look shy of taking the bumpers on.
In the batting power play, Raina lofted Woakes for a straight six over his head after which the bowler’s immediate response was a hostile short ball and the 27-year old was ready for it. He was deep inside the crease waiting on the back foot and he deposited it over the fine leg boundary for another six. So, he played with the minds of the bowlers too.
It was the one of the best knocks played by an Indian batsman overseas in limited-over cricket.