Suresh Raina's first ODI century against serious opposition - his previous two were against Hong Kong and Bangladesh - could prove to be his most influential contribution when a rejuvenated India take the field to defend 245 in Dhaka.
Having dug themselves into a gaping hole at 60 for 5, India were made to fight every inch for their total and while it is far less than what they should have got on a good batting track, it looks a whole lot better thanks to Raina.
His effort was the fourth-highest ODI score by an Indian at No. 6. From the time he entered the carnage in the ninth over, with India 4 for 47, to the time he was dismissed for 106 in the 46th over, Raina was confidence personified. However, Sri Lanka finished off well, taking the last four wickets for 32 runs in 5.2 overs and, given the notorious dew factor, will back themselves to chase this and secure a rare tournament title.
For the fulcrum of that belief, rewind to an overcast and mildly chilly Dhaka afternoon, when India's innings resembled an automobile ignition on a wintry morning in Denmark. A mishmash of indiscreet shot selection, accurate new-ball bowling, efficient left-arm pace and smart catching is often a recipe for a lop-sided contest and India so nearly made it one. The top order played without purpose - completely failing to make use of the chance to bat time at the crease - and wickets fell in a heap before the second fielding Powerplay was taken.
Gautam Gambhir's first-over dismissal - bowled off the pads while trying to glance Nuwan Kulasekara - set about a brief period of chaos where India's batsmen made the slightly nippy Chanaka Welegedara look like Jeff Thomson. Virat Kohli, in a rich vein of form, had only himself to blame when he steered a wide ball to Kumar Sangakkara. The change of angle had worked for Welegedara, who, with the previous ball, had been unfortunate to have a good lbw shout turned down. For Yuvraj Singh, who had not batted so early in the innings since November 8 against Australia, Sangakkara plugged two slips in a strong off-side field. It worked to perfection, as Yuvraj stood up and flirted with a rising delivery outside off stump and was well snapped up by Thilan Samaraweera at second slip, plucking the thick outside edge with one hand. Welegedara, hovering in the late 120s to early 130 kmph, had made Yuvraj look like a novice.
Sehwag - who went past 7,000 ODI runs today - didn't think it was over, counterattacking for a period in which boundaries flowed square on the off side with precision. But overconfidence did MS Dhoni in, as he attempted another drive and nicked Kulasekara to Sangakkara, for the wicketkeeper's 300th ODI dismissal. As with several Sehwag cameos in the recent past, this too wouldn't last. Sangakkara opted not to take the second fielding Powerplay after ten overs and Sehwag, looking to manufacture a run, uppercut Kulasekara to Sangakkara. It was the fourth time an Indian batsman had played an injudicious shot.
With India struggling at 76 for 5 after 15 overs, this was threatening to be one of the quickest finals in recent memory. Luckily for India, Raina and Jadeja proceeded to buckle down and give the innings a backbone. Raina was the more dominant partner after settling down to bat sensibly. After beginning with a wild shot that evaded mid-off, he showed signs of real intent. A pull through midwicket in the 20th over changed the tempo from survival to acceleration, and an open-faced steer between mid-off and extra cover was the shot of the innings. In Jadeja, who looked more suited to the situation that his senior team-mate, he found a capable ally with whom he stitched together an invaluable 106-run stand that helped push India's score to a respectable 245.
As their confidence increased, so did the nature of their shots. For the first 30-odd minutes of their alliance Raina and Jadeja were circumspect, content to thrust bat and pad together, and began flicking deliveries on off stump and just outside with precision. Fielders moved back from cover to deep extra cover and point to deep backward point as the pair began dabbing Suraj Randiv's spin with soft hands square on the off side as well.
Raina never allowed the situation get to him. He was alert to the singles, was skilled at placing the ball into the gaps, and called and responded well with Jadeja. Forty one of Raina's runs came behind the wicket, all through dabs, steers, glance and gentle maneuvering, but it was the crisply struck drives that had spectators purring and then cheering. The cover area was regularly threaded, especially as Raina made room to dominate the bowlers.
At 166 for 5 in the 35th over, India appeared on course for 250 but Dilshan trapped Jadeja (38) plumb in front. Harbhajan Singh (11 from 26 balls) and Zaheer Khan (16 from 8) helped India reach 200, but Raina's attempt to boost the tempo, after he crossed his century and lost No's 8 and 9, didn't come off. Despite facing 53 dot balls, Raina's strike-rate was a swift 92.17; marvelous considering the mess he had walked out to. Of the 185 runs scored since he came to the middle, Raina contributed 106. His excellent contribution at least gave India something to bowl at.
