Raina’s knock was one of the most destructive in IPL history, and while his quest for the fastest hundred fell short, his impact on the game was undeniable
May 30, 2014, marked a night of blistering cricket at Wankhede Stadium, where the second qualifier of the IPL 2014 unfolded a story that would remain in the memories of fans for years. Kings XI Punjab set a daunting target of 227 for Chennai Super Kings, and the odds were stacked high against MS Dhoni's men. But then, as he has done countless times, Suresh Raina decided to rise to the occasion.
What followed was the carnage of epic proportions as Raina dismantled Punjab's bowling attack in a frenzy of boundaries. He was on a mission to keep Chennai's hopes alive, and while the game ended in defeat, Raina's performance became the talk of the town. But was it enough for Chennai to go through? Let's dive into the details of this thrilling encounter.
The chase began on a disastrous note for CSK, with Dwayne Smith falling early for just 7 runs. Faf du Plessis joined Raina, but the pressure of the required rate mounted. However, Raina was unfazed. The southpaw, renowned for his aggressive batting, wasted no time launching his assault on the Punjab bowlers.
The 27-year-old didn't just get off to a good start; he blazed a trail. In just 16 balls, he reached a blazing half-century, hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes. At this point, Raina was batting at a strike rate of 348, leaving the Punjab bowlers wondering where to bowl. His footwork was swift, and his shots – effortless, power-driven pulls and cuts – were on display for all to witness.
As the match progressed, the required run rate escalated. Yet, Raina continued his onslaught, not looking like he would slow down. By the time the 6th over arrived, he was already on 87, having faced just 25 balls. His boundary count had reached 12 fours and 6 sixes, with a mere 3 runs coming from singles.
With each passing ball, Raina was getting closer to breaking the record for the fastest T20 hundred, which at the time stood at 30 balls, held by Chris Gayle. As the crowd roared with every stroke, Raina's dream of creating history seemed increasingly realistic.
Even after Raina's departure, Chennai didn't give up. Brendon McCullum and MS Dhoni tried to maintain the tempo, but CSK was never quite in the hunt, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Despite their best efforts, the required run rate climbed, and they could only manage to reach 202/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by 24 runs.
Punjab, led by Virender Sehwag's explosive 122, set a near-impossible target, and while Raina's brilliance brought CSK close, it wasn't enough to take them through to the final. Kings XI Punjab progressed, only to lose to Kolkata Knight Riders in the final, but the match's true hero was Raina, whose innings testified to his explosive batting prowess.
