Suresh Raina - 6 Top notch knocks in ODIs

#1 ICC WC 2011, Quarters vs Australia, Ahmedabad, 34*

Raina and Yuvraj batted superbly to send Australia packing out of the tournament

Suresh Raina does not believe in numbers. At least it looks as if he does not believe in it. The twin match-winning knocks that he played in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of the ICC World Cup 2011 has to be the best knocks that he has played in his career. Not going by numbers, but largely due to the fact that the two knocks were delivered when there was pressure from all directions. India had not won a 50 over WC for 28 years, and everyone felt that this was the best chance for India to reclaim the trophy, this was the last chance for India to bid a fantastic WC winning farewell to one of its beloved sons, Sachin Tendulkar.

And with each passing game, India managed to grow from strength to strength, as each one contributed in their own little way to reach the quarterfinals. India had to play the mighty Aussies for a place in the semis. They had to play a team that just did not know the meaning of 'defeat' in the last three WCs, as they had won the title, hat-trick of times, a record that will stand the test of time.

Australia batted first, hoping for a 2003 WC final heroics with the bat. Ponting scoring runs against India seemed to be an eternal story as the champion batsman raced to yet another hundred against India. Australia ended up with a challenging 260, challenging considering that it was a WC quarterfinal. India in reply got to a good start from both the openers. Though Sehwag fell for 15, he had put on 44 with Sachin, who was looking well set at the other end. Sachin registered yet another fifty against Australia and just when he was looking set for a big one, he was dismissed by Tait and Gambhir was soon run out, having got a fifty against his name. Kohli and Dhoni did not last long as the pressure was right back on India.

At 187/5, India pinned their last hopes on Yuvraj and Raina. The fact that Raina did not play the initial stages of the tournament and got his first game of the tournament against the West Indies, meant that he did not have enough match practice, in the build-up to the quarters.

That is where Raina showed his class and experience to stitch a valuable 74 runs stand to take India past the finish line. Raina's wicket at that stage would have made life difficult for India but he kept his nerve and played a lovely helping hand to Yuvraj. Yuvi was magnificent in that game, as he was during the entire tournament. He remained unbeaten on 57 and ensured that India did not have any further hiccups.

Raina scored just 34 in that game, but each of those 34 runs was worth its weight in gold as he enabled India to stay alive in the tournament, by defeating the mighty Aussies in a high voltage clash.

Raina's 34 off 28 was one of the finest and most sensible innings ever played by him in the shorter format of the game.