Raina, Jadeja help Gujarat overcome in-form Kolkata

When Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja came together in the 188-run chase against Kolkata on Friday, Gujarat still required 66 off 44 balls. When Raina finally departed 19-balls later, he and Jadeja had reduced the deficit to 8 off 13, which helped their side eventually ease past an in-form Kolkata unit by four wickets, and 10 balls to spare, in the Indian Twenty20 competition at Eden Gardens.

Gujarat, until Friday's win, was at the bottom of the points table, with just one win from five matches in the competition. They required their top order - comprising of Raina, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch to stand up and be counted. Raina did just that when he entered the fray in the fourth over after Finch had departed for a 15-ball 31, which had given Gujarat just the start they required. He initially sat back as McCullum took the initiative and plundered four boundaries. Following McCullum and Dinesh Karthik's departure, Raina stepped on the gas. He had his share of luck as Yusuf Pathan dropped him at deep fine leg.

He made the hosts pay for the error and joined forces with Jadeja to add 58 runs for the sixth wicket, which guided Gujarat closer to the target. The duo scored at 11.22 runs an over in the 5.1 overs the batted together. When Raina finally departed after amassing 84 off 46 balls, he had hit nine fours and four sixes, and had put his side on track for the second win of the season. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 19 off 13 balls and alongside James Faulkner guided his side home.