Kolkata: After failing to score in last few matches Suresh Raina roared back as he smashed Bengal bowlers out of the park to score a ton in Mustaq Ali Trophy at Eden Gardens on Monday.
He scored 126 in just 59 balls with 13 fours and 7 maximums. This is the second highest knock by an Indian in a T20 match. Earlier, Murali Vijay scored 127 for Chennai Super Kings in 2010 but, it Raina’s innings was very special as Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president was present at the ground and appreciated his innings.
He is also the second Indian to score over 7000 runs in T20 cricket after Indian skipper Virat Kohli. Raina represented India in January last year as the fitness was the main issue but, recently he cleared the yo-yo test.
Meanwhile, Bengal didn’t bat their full quota of overs as they folded for 160 in 16.1 overs chasing 235 runs. Only Sreevats Goswami, who made 57 off 28 balls, and Sudip Chatterjee (36 off 25) made substantial contributions.
Kuldip Jadav picked 4 wickets giving just 26 runs to break the Bengal innings.
Another legend of Indian cricket Yuvraj Singh also scored 40 runs off 34 balls to beat Mumbai at Jadavpur University ground in Kolkata as Mumbai posted a very competitive total of 198 for the loss of 4 wickets in twenty overs. Punjab comfortably chased down the total with four balls to spare and claimed the match with three wickets in hand. Not only Yuvi but also Manan Vora (42 off 31) ,Gurkreerat Singh Mann (43 off 18) and Shreyas Iyer (44 off 79) helped Punjab to passed the total.