WATCH: Suresh Raina smashes 25-ball 87 vs Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2014 Qualifier 2

Suresh Raina smashes 25-ball 87: Super Kings’ batsman had played a blinder of an innings in a much-needed situation back in the day.

During the second qualifier of the seventh season of the Indian Premier League between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai, Kings XI Punjab had defeated Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs in a high-scoring encounter.

After Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and opted to field, the table-toppers posted 226/6 in their allotted quota of 20 overs.

Veteran opening batsman Virender Sehwag, who had been through a below par season until that match, stood tall on his reputation to register a whirlwind century. Opening the batting with Manan Vohra (34), Sehwag went on to score 122 (58) with the help of 12 fours and eight sixes before getting out to CSK pacer Ashish Nehra in the penultimate over.

Kings XI fast bowler Mitchell Johnson dismissing Super Kings opening batsman Faf du Plessis (0) in the first over itself brought vice-captain Suresh Raina into the middle.

With breaking the shackles being the need of the hour, the southpaw punished the opposition bowlers from the word go as he registered the then second-fastest half-century in the tournament.

On the second delivery of the fifth over, Raina hit Punjab seamer Sandeep Sharma over the over region to cross the 50-run mark on the 16th delivery that he faced.

Raina’s heroics powered CSK to score 100 runs in the first powerplay. Having said that, Kings XI captain George Bailey finding Raina short of his crease on the first delivery post the powerplay changed the course of the match to a large extent.

Despite Chennai ending on the losing side, Raina scoring 87 (25) with the help of 12 fours and six sixes will be part of the all-time best IPL innings especially while chasing.

Suresh Raina smashes 25-ball 87

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