Ton-up Dhoni, Raina run riot
Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an explosvie century and Suresh Raina
cracked a brisk 50 as India posted an imposing 360-5 against New Zealand
in a World Cup warm-up match on Wednesday. Skipper Dhoni hammered three
sixes and 11 fours in his 64-ball 108 not out while Raina hit three
sixes and four boundaries in a 26-ball knock to put the New Zealand
attack to the sword in the day-night match.
The pair added 124 for the fifth wicket off just 56 balls to boost
their team’s hopes of recording a second successive win in warm-up
games.
Dhoni’s best came when he smashed seamer Jacob Oram for five
successive fours. The New Zealander suffered again when he was hit for
three sixes in an over by Raina.
The stage for the closing-overs onslaught was set by Gautam Gambhir
(89) and Virat Kohli (59), who put on 106 for the third wicket after
India lost openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar for 42 runs.
Record-breaking batsman Tendulkar, who recently missed the last three
one-day internationals in South Africa due to a hamstring injury and was
rested for the first practice game against Australia, contributed 17.
AFP
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