India vs England: Suresh Raina proves MSD & co dearly missed him!

Suresh Raina slammed a blistering hundred off a mere 75 balls for India in 2nd ODI

Following their dismal performance in the five-match Test series recently, the MS Dhoni brigade finally found the majestic touch to inflict a 133-run defeat on the arrogant Englishmen.

Asked to bat first, Team India started off cautiously but then lost two quick wickets as the demons from the past started crawling back in the minds of the Indian fans. But, then Suresh Raina came out in the middle and the rest as they say is history.

Raina came on to bat at a time when Chris Woakes had just dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli in one over, leaving India reeling at 19 runs for the loss of two wickets. It surely appeared as if India was headed for yet another collapse.

But, the Indian southpaw took the bull by its horns to turn it around for the visitors. Raina slammed his 4th ODI hundred off a mere 75 balls with 12 boundaries and three sixes. His partnership of 144 runs alongside Dhoni for the fifth wicket laid the foundation of the Indian innings.

His blistering innings finally came to an end when was caught by James Anderson off Chris Woakes while trying to accelarate the innings in the death overs. But, to England's dismay, the damage was already done.

Team India piled up a mammoth total of 304 runs with the Indian skipper playing a second fiddle following his sturdy half-century. The Indian bowlers also joined the party with Ravindra Jadeja claiming four England scalps as the hosts finally succumbed to a mere 161 runs.

Making a point to the Indian selectors, Raina's resilient innings clearly showed how dearly he was missed during the humiliating Test series loss. His ability to hold fort at one end and then leading India's counter-attack with an aggressive approach was notable.

Though the battle is just half-won and even the ODI series win won't heal the wounds incurred during the Tests, it shouldn't change the fact that Dhoni's men have drawn first blood in the five-match series and with the 1st ODI already washed out, India's lead in the series is surely significant.

Here's a look at the statistical highlights of the 2nd ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff:

- Suresh Raina's 100 off 75 balls is his first century outside the sub-continent. His fourth hundred in ODIs is his first vs England.

- Raina has been adjudged the Man of the Match for the tenth time in ODIs - his fifth award vs England.

- During the course of his 100, he completed his 1,000 runs vs England in ODIs - his aggregate being 1098 (ave.47.73) in 29 games.

- He is now the third Indian batsman after Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan to record a hundred at Cardiff.

- He became the sixth Indian batsman to amass 1,000 runs against England in ODIs. He has joined Sachin Tendulkar (1455), Yuvraj Singh (1313), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (1180), Rahul Dravid (1012) and Virender Sehwag (1008).

- In a winning cause in ODIs, Raina has amassed 3012 runs (ave.49.37), including three hundreds and 23 fifties, in 114 matches.

- Ravindra Jadeja (4/28) has recorded his best bowling figures vs England in ODIs.

- Jadeja has captured four wickets or more in an innings six times in ODIs. His only five-wicket haul is five for 36 vs West Indies at The Oval on June 11, 2013.

- India's win by 133 runs is their biggest by runs' margin vs England in England in ODIs, surpassing the 63-run victory at Birmingham on May 29, 1999.

- India's victory is their second biggest by runs margin over England in ODIs - the biggest being by 58 runs at Rajkot on November 14, 2008.

- India have won three ODIs out of four at Cardiff - one each vs Sri Lanka, England and South Africa. They lost one at this venue - to England.

- England's defeat is their first in ODIs at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. In all, they have won four and lost one out of eight contested at this venue (NR 3).

- England have never chased a score of 300 or more in ODIs in England. They could chase 300 successfully twice - 306 for five against Pakistan in Karachi on October 24, 2000 and 301 for nine against West Indies in Bridgetown on April 21, 2007.

- India (304/6) have posted their third total of 300 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. They had scored 331 for seven vs South Africa on June 6, 2013 and 304 for six vs England on September 16, 2011.

- Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the third Indian skipper to have played 100 ODIs or more overseas, joining Mohammad Azharuddin (116) and Sourav Ganguly (110).

- Rohit Sharma (52 off 87 balls) posted his 23rd fifty in ODIs - his second vs England. He had managed 83 off 93 balls against England at Mohali on January 23, 2013.

- Raina and Dhoni were involved in a stand of 144 - India's third century partnership for the fifth wicket against England in England - the highest is 169 between Dhoni and Raina at Lord's on September 11, 2011.

- Dhoni's splendid 52 off 51 balls is his 55th fifty in ODIs - his tenth against England.

- Chris Woakes (4/52) has recorded his best bowling performance vs India. The figures are his second best in ODIs behind the 6 for 45 vs Australia at Brisbane on January 30, 2011.

- James Anderson has failed to take a wicket on 16 occasions while conceding 50 runs or more in an innings in ODIs.

- Raina-Dhoni pair is the first pair to amass 2,000 runs for the fifth wicket - their aggregate being 2091 (ave.53.61) in 45 innings.

- Jadeja has averaged 83.50 in six innings in ODIs in England - his aggregate is 167, including a fifty.

- Jadeja's average is the fourth highest by any batsman in ODIs in England (minimum six innings) - the best being 96.00 by Lance Klusener - his tally being 384 in twelve innings (eight times not out), including three fifties.

- Mohammed Shami (2/32) has recorded his best bowling figures vs England in ODIs.