116* - SURESH RAINA
vs. Bangladesh, Karachi, 2008
The 7th match of the 2008 Asia Cup saw India and Bangladesh clash in Karachi. Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and chose to bat first.
Tamim Iqbal scored 55 and despite Manpreet Gony and Pragyan Ojha picking 2 wickets each in the middle overs, Alok Kapali took Bangladesh to a more than respectable total of 283/6 with a brilliant 115 in 96 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes.
Chasing down 283 a decade ago was a tough ask and when India lost opener Robin Uthappa (2) and Rohit Sharma (22) early, it depended on Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina to take them to safety and they did their jobs in style.
Gambhir scored a brilliant 90 in 84 balls with 10 fours and 1 six and was unlucky not to get his hundred. He added a valuable 139 runs with the eventual Man of the match Suresh Raina to take India home.
Raina, on the other hand, dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers, especially their spinners Mahmudullah and Alok Kapali, while Shahadat Hossain too went for runs, as Raina wrestled the initiative from opposition bowlers in a tough looking chase.
Raina ended up unbeaten on 116 off 107 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes and took India to a win by 7 wickets and almost 7 overs to spare in the end.
Here is the highlight video of the innings:
