Throwback to Suresh Raina’s destructive knock of 87 from 25 balls against Kings XI Punjab in 2014
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Suresh Raina
The CSK southpaw, Suresh Raina nearly pulled off an impossible run chase against the Kings XI Punjab in 2014 IPL Qualifiers II playing a blistering knock of 87 of 25 balls which consist of 12 fours and 6 sixers. This is one of the best memorable knock in the heart of all IPL viewers to see the desperation exhibited by Raina to take his team over the line and reach the finals.
Previously the first half of the match witnessed a fire crackling show of 122 from 58 balls from the former Indian veteran opener Virender Sehwag who took Punjab to an unassailable total of 226 in second qualifier against CSK. In a high pressure knock out game, such a mammoth total posted for a chase would definitely choke even the most experienced batsman and the same happened as the CSK openers: Dwayne Smith and Faf du Plessis departed in a short time.
“It will remain a very special knock for me” said Suresh Raina
When Punjab thought it was going to be a easy task for defending, Suresh Raina’s half century came from a mere 16 balls taking CSK to the 100 run margin by the end of 6th over. The CSK southpaw started his attack from the very first ball and stopped no where which shifted the pressure back on the Punjab Bowlers. When all were going right for CSK and Punjab bowlers had no way of stopping Raina’s march towards the target, something unexpected happened as Raina was run out after the power play with George Bailey’s direct hit. With this ended the most memorable knock of Suresh Raina in his IPL career as the cricketer expressed his feel of desperation to take his team to the finals and will remain a special knock for him.
With the departure of Suresh Raina after scoring 87 runs, there was nothing to be done by the other batsman as they could not cope up with the surging required run rate resulting 24 runs short of the required target. Dhoni tried his best playing a knock of 42 of 31 balls but in the end it did not matter as Punjab won the Qualifier II. The Kings XI Punjab faced KKR in the finals and KKR won their maiden IPL title in the year of 2014.
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Pozhilan. M
(68 Articles Published)