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Lack of momemtum cost us the match: Kumble
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble said his team failed to get the momentum right in the first six overs against KKR on Sunday.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: March 14, 2010 03:50 PM IST
Read Time:3 min
Kolkata:
Kumble said they played too many shots in the first six overs and lost three crucial wickets which eventually cost them the match at Eden Gardens here.
"After we scored 135, it was not the best score in this pitch. We had to really bowl well and get some early wickets that did not happen. That probably helped Kolkata get away with the game," Kumble said after his team succumbed to a seven-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the third IPL.
"We did not get the momentum in the first six overs. Probably that was what cost us the game. We lost three wickets as well inside six overs. Kallis and Dravid were putting together a partnership but after Dravid got out we just lost momentum," he said.
Praising Kallis, Kumble said: "Kallis batted really well to get us to 135, a decent score but not good enough. We lost too many wickets early on probably that pushed us back."
Asked whether it was their strategy for Kallis to anchor the innings, Kumble said: "That's the game he plays. We don't want to change the way he plays. we have calibre of Kallis and Dravid in the team. Maybe we played too many shots too early that's what cost us the game."
Kumble said the wicket was a little slower but he said they played poor cricket to start on a losing note.
"It was not coming on to the bat. When you have 135 runs on the board and your opponents get off to a good start, it's not easy to get back to the momentum. I thought Knight Riders bowled really well, in good areas. I don't like to give excuses, we played poor cricket."
But Kumble said there's still time to regroup and come back winning like the last season.
"We have done that in the past. I don't see any reason why we can't come back again. Just by losing one game, the first game, does not really change anything. It's just about getting the right momentum. Hopefully we will get back to winning ways in our next match which is at home," he said.
He said Knight Riders are playing as a unit which is helping them.
"It's a bit too early for me to speak on that. They have won just two matches but yes they have started off really well in this tournament which we probably could not manage in this game. But it's a long tournament. we would like to focus on what we can achieve. They played as a unit and that's the reason they won first two games."
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble said his team failed to get the momentum right in the first six overs and also didn't bowl well against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 3 opener on Sunday.Kumble said they played too many shots in the first six overs and lost three crucial wickets which eventually cost them the match at Eden Gardens here.
"After we scored 135, it was not the best score in this pitch. We had to really bowl well and get some early wickets that did not happen. That probably helped Kolkata get away with the game," Kumble said after his team succumbed to a seven-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the third IPL.
"We did not get the momentum in the first six overs. Probably that was what cost us the game. We lost three wickets as well inside six overs. Kallis and Dravid were putting together a partnership but after Dravid got out we just lost momentum," he said.
Praising Kallis, Kumble said: "Kallis batted really well to get us to 135, a decent score but not good enough. We lost too many wickets early on probably that pushed us back."
Asked whether it was their strategy for Kallis to anchor the innings, Kumble said: "That's the game he plays. We don't want to change the way he plays. we have calibre of Kallis and Dravid in the team. Maybe we played too many shots too early that's what cost us the game."
Kumble said the wicket was a little slower but he said they played poor cricket to start on a losing note.
"It was not coming on to the bat. When you have 135 runs on the board and your opponents get off to a good start, it's not easy to get back to the momentum. I thought Knight Riders bowled really well, in good areas. I don't like to give excuses, we played poor cricket."
But Kumble said there's still time to regroup and come back winning like the last season.
"We have done that in the past. I don't see any reason why we can't come back again. Just by losing one game, the first game, does not really change anything. It's just about getting the right momentum. Hopefully we will get back to winning ways in our next match which is at home," he said.
He said Knight Riders are playing as a unit which is helping them.
"It's a bit too early for me to speak on that. They have won just two matches but yes they have started off really well in this tournament which we probably could not manage in this game. But it's a long tournament. we would like to focus on what we can achieve. They played as a unit and that's the reason they won first two games."
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