CT IPL Flashback: When Suresh Raina scored 87 of just 25 balls only to crash out of the IPL
The year 2014 was one of the most successful years for the batsmen. It was the 7th year of this cricket extravaganza and the Qualifier 2 between the in-form Chennai Super Kings and the underdogs Kings XI Punjab was one of the best games of that season. Chennai Super Kings were through the Eliminator and had Kings XI Punjab on their way but it was not going to be easy.
Punjab were ready to up their game after failing to qualify for the finals in the first attempt. Chennai Super Kings won the toss and chose to bowl as they were one of the best chasing teams in the Indian Premier League that season. The decision of Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bowl was proved wrong by Virender Sehwag. Sehwag and Vohra took it to the men in yellow and gave KXIP a smashing start.
Sehwag rolls back in time
Virender Sehwag absolutely annihilated the CSK bowlers. The Delhi-man smashed each and every one all over the ground. He was trying to make a comeback into the Indian team and boy was he making an impact. Sehwag took it to himself hitting some sweetly timed sixes and his boundaries were a pure joy to watch.
MS Dhoni seemed clueless as the former Indian opener did not allow any of the CSK bowlers to dictate terms. He looked in prime form as he scored a magnificent century. Scoring a 122 of just 58 deliveries against one of the best bowling attacks in the league is not a child’s play.
Sehwag smashed eight huge sixes and 12 of the most squash buckling boundaries. This brilliant inning of his took his team to a huge total of 226.
Chennai get off to a bad start
The Chennai Super Kings openers failed to make a mark as the men in yellow were in search of a rapid start. Chasing 226 a good start was mandatory. Faf du Plessis, who was in good form throughout the tournament was back in the pavilion for a golden duck to his name.
Dwayne Smith also did not make a mark as he walked back scoring just 7 runs in 11 balls. It was all in the hands of the middle order as Chennai were in deep trouble chasing the massive target set by the men in pink and gray.
Suresh Raina’s brilliance puts Chennai into driving seat
Suresh Raina came in to bat and just held the Punjab bowlers by their neck and smacked them on to the ground. Raina looked like he was playing somewhere else as he just hit every other ball into the stands. Suresh is the highest run-getter in the IPL but this inning is just beyond anyone’s imagination.
Raina came into bat on the third ball of Chennai’s innings. By the time he returned back to pavilion Chennai were 100/2 at the end of six overs. It looked like everything was in slow motion except this superstar. Raina scored 87 of just 25 deliveries. He had a strike rate of 348, hitting 12 boundaries and 6 sixes.
There seemed only one way Raina was getting out and that was run out. Some magnificent work by George Bailey in the field meant Raina was walking back to the pavilion but he had done his job. He brought that required run rate from 11 to 9.
It was one of the greatest innings in the IPL history so far.
Chennai collapse after Raina show
It looked like an easy win for Chennai Super Kings after they were 100 runs in just six overs. But Kings XI Punjab grabbed the opportunity and got back into the game. They snatched McCullum, Jadeja, and Hussey in the space of three runs and Chennai were left reeling at 142 for 6.
It was then a typical recovery inning from MS Dhoni. He scored run a ball 42 in a tight situation but that was not enough for Chennai to reach home. The target was too stiff even for the best finisher in the world. The men in yellow eventually finished with 202 for 7 scoring only 102 off the last 14 overs.
Raina’s superb show had to end with a defeat as Chennai crashed out of the 2014 edition of the Indian Premier League.
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