Rahane can sleep again after maiden ton

India batsman Ajinkya Rahane was a relieved man after getting his maiden ODI ton this week, saying his stumping dismissal had been keeping him awake at night, and he was gutted about repeated scores of 40.

India batsman Ajinkya Rahane was a relieved man after getting his maiden ODI ton this week, saying his stumping dismissal had been keeping him awake at night, and he was gutted about repeated scores of 40.

Rahane was one if India's better batsmen in the Test series, and in the first two completed one-dayers he made 41 and 45, before finally pushing on to a century in the fourth ODI at Edgbaston.

The opener said his stumping, playing forward against spin, had been haunting him, and he had asked advice from other players about pushing on past the 40s, after going out between 40 and 60 thirteen times in his career.

He said ahead of the fifth ODI: "It was really special. After two 40s in the first two ODIs, and the way I got out, I was really hurt.

"I couldn't sleep after the first game because the way I got out stumped. It was a really silly mistake of mine. I was really determined in the third ODI. Once I crossed the next 10 runs after 40, my natural game took over.

"When you get out softly, somewhere you feel your focus is dropping a bit. Team-mates also help you, and nudge you into the right direction. All team-mates and the captain supported me.

"They told me to focus harder during the 40s, to try to play straight, and to concentrate harder."

He added: "I was batting well in the first two ODIs, but got out on 45 and 41. That hurt me a lot because if you are batting so well in good conditions against this attack, if you get a big score it is good for my confidence and team morale.

"It hurt the team chances too that I was not converting my starts. Ravi Shastri was very helpful during this phase. He asked me to continue playing the way I was playing, just asked for a little extra focus between 40 and 50. 'Once you cross 50, your instinct will take over.'

"My focus in the third ODI (fourth, in reality) was to focus that bit harder once I crossed 40, at least for those 10 next runs. After that I backed my instinct."

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