Raina resumed his love affair with Chepauk on Thursday night as Chennai Super Kings equal Royal Challengers Bangalore record of 7 succeeding IPL wins with a thrilling triumph over Kings XI Punjab.
Raina 53-ball, unbeaten 100 ultimately prevailed over the late counter-attack by lefties Shaun Marsh (73) and David Miller (51*) that took Punjab to the doorstep of what might have been a famous chase. But the pair, having joint for 95 in just 8.4 overs, ran out of ideas with the visitors needing 19 off the final over, bowled by Dwayne Bravo.
Raina hits out
Raina came in at the fall of Wriddhiman Saha and was merciless against the smorgasbord of bowling available for consumption. A majority of his 6 sixes came against the pacers Manpreet Gony and Praveen Kumar were both hit scornfully back over their heads – and the spinners, leggie Chawla especially, were smashed through the leg-side.
It was a rare failure for Chennai super star MS Dhoni, who was run-out for 2 soon after Hussey, was stumped off Chawla, but Raina Nonstop rained hits on the park without close. The Ghaziabad lad reached 3 figures in the last over, in just 53 balls, and powered Chennai to a total that proved beyond the reach of Marsh and Miller dramatic counter-attack.
SCORE DETAILS
Chennai Super Kings- 186/4 (20)
Highest Scores
S Raina -100*(53)
M Hussey -35(29)
Best bowling
P Awana-2(29)
Highest Scores
S Raina -100*(53)
M Hussey -35(29)
Best bowling
P Awana-2(29)
Kings XI Punjab- 171/6 (20)
Highest Scores
S Marsh -73(51)
D Miller -51(26)
Best Bowling
D Bravo-3(34)
Highest Scores
S Marsh -73(51)
D Miller -51(26)
Best Bowling
D Bravo-3(34)
Player Of The Match-S_Raina
