Internet Desk: Jharkhand skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored his 17th List A hundred to lead his side to an emphatic 78 runs victory over Chattisgarh in a group D encounter of Vijay Hazare Trophy on Sunday.
Dhoni survived some scares on his way to a brilliant knock of 129 runs off just 107 balls, which was enough for Jharkhand to reach home.
Mohammed Kaif won the toss and sent Dhoni’s men to bat first. Jharkhand started miserably as they reach 43/5 in 14.4 overs. But along with Shahbaz Nadeem, the former Indian skipper took the total to 243/9 as they shared a crucial partnership of 151 runs for the seventh wicket.
It was Dhoni’s career-best knock in domestic one-dayers. He smashed 10 fours and six huge sixes during his play. But it was not a perfect knock as he survived some close calls before reaching his first century for Jharkhand.
The first life came when he was yet to open his account and stayed on after a loud caught-behind appeal against Abhuday Kant Singh (4/33), the wrecker-in-chief for Chattisgarh.
Later, he survived a close leg-before shout from debutant legspinner Shubham Agarwal that hit Dhoni on the backfoot when he was on 34.
On 95, Dhoni was dropped by Kaif, a regulation catch at short extra cover. Dhoni stayed on till the last ball and was finally dismissed by a Shourabh Kharwar (1/53) when a skier was taken safely by glovesman Manoj Singh.
But by then, Dhoni had rescued Jharkhand from being on the mat.
This was Dhoni’s 17th List A century, which included 10 in ODIs, and first in domestic one-dayers since February 8, 2005 when he had scored an unbeaten 102 for India Seniors in the Challengers Trophy against India B.
Dhoni scored a century for Bihar against Assam during the Ranji One-Dayers in 2003-04 but never had a century for Jharkhand and he bettered that today with a career-best knock at domestic level. Dhoni also has two centuries each for East Zone and India A.
Chhattisgarh captain Mohammed Kaif believe that Dhoni could have still continued playing all three formats.
“He has natural abilities which you saw today. I believe he is still good enough for all formats of the game. He is still hitting the ball hard,” the Chhattisgarh skipper said after Dhoni led Jharkhand to a 78-run win against his side.
“I have been watching Dhoni from his debut match for and always felt you cannot become a ‘Dhoni’ just by practice,” the former India batsman said.
Today also he rescued the side after being 57/6 in the 20th over as his century lifted their total of 243/9 before Jharkhand skittled out Chhattisgarh for 165 in 38.4 overs.
“We would have bundled them for 120 if Dhoni was not there,” Kaif added.
In reply, Chattisgarh innings folded for 165 in 38.4 overs as Dhoni brilliantly shuffled his bowlers with Varun Aaron and Shahbaz Nadeem claiming three wickets each.
Reduced to 69/3 inside 16 overs, Kaif looked to build the innings but Dhoni ended the Chattisgarh captain’s stay with a run out for 23 before Nadeem ran through the tail with his 3/36.