Taunton, Jul 17: Suresh Raina smashed an explosive counter-attacking century to single-handedly take India to 224 all out but failed to save his side from conceding a huge first innings lead to Somerset on the final morning of their three-day game here today.
The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 103 from just 112 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and five sixes as India conceded a 201-run lead after Somerset had posted 425 for three declared in their first innings.
The hosts, as expected, did not enforce the follow on and were 11 for no loss at lunch break. They have now taken an overall lead of 202 runs.
The visitors, resuming at 138 for eight, lost overnight batsman S Sreesanth (1) straightaway, giving left-arm paceman Charl Willoughby his sixth wicket of the innings.
This was the trigger Raina needed to throw caution to winds as he took 18 runs from Alfonso Thomas' next over from the other end—a four, followed by a six over midwicket and two more boundaries to complete the over.
He soon was past his half century from 73 balls with nine fours and a six.
Raina then turned his attention of Willoughby and struck him for three sixes, each bigger than the previous ones as he took his chance for a three-figure knock.
The last wicket stand with Munaf Patel thus prospered before Raina drove one past a misfielding mid-off to reach his century.
Munaf was out thereafter, leg before to part-time leg spin of Max Waller, a decision the tall medium-pacer was not happy with at all. PTI
