9 May, Hyderabad: His breathtaking unbeaten 99 set up Chennai Super Kings’s 77-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2013, but a modest Suresh Raina credited his batting colleagues for the comprehensive victory here.
In-form Raina, who smashed 11 fours and three sixes in his whirlwind unbeaten knock, praised openers Murali Vijay (29) and Michael Hussey (67) for laying the foundation of the huge total of 223 for three.
“Hyderabad wicket, we were expecting probably 140, 150. Vijay and Hussey batted really well in five overs. And we knew, me and Hussey, Dhoni followed by Jadeja, we thought we can play till the last over and we can easily score 180. But I think last over, Jadeja batted really well. He batted really well against Steyn, that’s why we got 223,” Raina said at the post-match press conference last night.
“I was looking to play till the last over. Vijay and Hussey, they had a very good partnership, five overs 50 runs. Then Hussey was telling me just look to be positive, no need to plan anything. Whenever you get the ball, just look to be positive. Then me and Hussey had a good partnership. Hussey batted really well,” he added.
Raina said he was not disappointed on missing out on scoring a century as winning was more important.
“I am not disappointed at not being able to make 100 runs. We won the match that is more important. It was very good wicket to bat on. We played really well honestly. I was batting really well. I was thinking to time the ball and no need to hurry,” he said.
Asked how he had seen the CSK evolve over the years, Raina said, “I think God has been kind. We have a good franchise as well as coaching staff. We all believe in them. They gave us a very good platform. When you know you have a good coaching staff, you tend to learn good things and you can execute them.”
PTI
