First six overs will be key for us, says Raina
CAPETOWN: Suresh Raina says he is thankful to skipper Virat Kohli for giving him the opportunity to bat at No 3 in the T20 International series.
The left-hander, who has batted in the top order for his franchises in the Indian Premier League, would have faced competition in the India team as the top three slots were already filled with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli walking into them without any resistance.
“It is important Virat showed that faith in me (slotting him at No. 3),” said Raina ahead of the final match of the tour here. Raina has gone after the bowling right from the start.
He feels that with the likes of Dhoni, Pandey and Kohli behind him in the line-up, he can afford to be aggressive.
EARLY INITIATIVE
“In the last two games we have dominated the first six overs. It is very important to play well in the first six overs. When you look to target the first six overs in T20s, you have to play your shots. I think when there is depth in the middle order you can afford to take chances in those overs.”
Raina, who has been out of the ODI side for a while may get an opportunity as India struggle to cement their middle order where he has done well.
“It is very important (comeback to the ODI team). But a team victory is more important than individual performances.
“I am someone who always plays for the team and if we are winning trophies, then individual performances (and opportunities) will take care of them - selves. Whatever opportunity I get, I look to play my natural game.
“If you see the top order, they are all batting well. When you come to the middle order, Nos. 4, 5 and 6 --- MS is there and Manish is also doing a good job. So we CAPE TOWN: Having already taken an unbeatable 2-1 lead, the Indian women’s cricket team look to extend their domination in the shortest format and achieve a rare double series win when they take on South Africa in the fifth and final T20 here on Saturday.
Having won the threematch ODI series 2-1, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team is ahead in the five-match T20 series after the fourth game in Centurion was washed out.
India were quite clinical in the first two T20 games, which they won convincingly, by seven and nine wickets respectively . But a five-wicket win in the third match kept the series alive for South Africa.
The visitors fancied their chances in the fourth T20 after a strong batting display but rain played spoilsport and the match was abandoned with South Africa on 130/3 in 15.3 overs.
A win will make Harmanpreet and Co the first Indian side to win two series on a single tour of South Africa. It will be a huge milestone after the T20 series win in Australia.
India dominated the proceedings in the first two T20IS before they were brought to earth by the hosts in the third match. Harmanpreet will have to ensure there are no slip-ups.
Mithali Raj has done the bulk of the scoring with consecutive fifties (54, 76) in the first two matches will see where I can fit in. We have lots of matches coming up.”
While it seems that the Indian bowling attack looks devoid of teeth without Kuldeep Yadav, Raina said the South Africans have begun to play the spinners better by changing their plans a bit.
“Without Kuldeep, our bowling isn’t weak. We have done really well as a bowling unit. Sometimes you need to credit the opposition as well. They needed to do something different when our spinners were not allowing them to score. They needed to come up with plan B and they did that.”
I think when there is depth in the middle order you can afford to take chances in those overs.
SURESH RAINA, On early overs