It is really surprising how the Indian top order fails when it comes to big-match days. The number six or seven batsman has a huge burden resting on their shoulders to take India to victory or at least to safety to save the blushes.

In the final match of the Bangladesh tri-series, the Indian top order once again collapsed facing a spirited Sri Lankan attack. Nuwan Kulasekara was particularly at his aggressive best, claiming four wickets, to put the Indians on the mat. Raina, who walked in as the sixth batsman, held fort and went on to score a century to take India to a respectable 245. The 106-run seventh wicket partnership between Raina and Ravindra Jadeja was the best for India but did not prove sufficient in the end as Sri Lanka accomplished a comfortable run-chase to win the match and lift the trophy.

Sehwag was back for this match but failed to do anything spectacular while Yuvraj’s bad form continued. Interestingly, as it turned out to be, it was this strange piece of statistics that emerged the winner. Before this match, the team batting second at Mirpur won in all the six previous encounters of the series. And that perhaps would have boosted the morale of Sangakkara’s men to go about the chase and win the match with minimum fuss.