Shah blames DD flopshow on tricky Pitch, inconsistent batting

New Delhi:

Senior Delhi Daredevils batsman Owais Shah feels Feroze Shah Kotla Stadium's tricky pitch played a part in his team's poor show in the Champions League Twenty20 but said inconsistent batting was also to be blamed for the side's failure to make the semifinals.

The Daredevils finished their Champions League campaign by beating a formidable Cape Cobras by 30 runs in an inconsequential low-scoring match here.

The side played most of its matches on home turf at the newly-laid Kotla pitch which came under severe criticism from all the teams that played on the ground.

The hosts' campaign never got the momentum and though they managed to get past the group stage, they eventually failed to make the semifinals.

"Yeah, it (the pitch) played a part to a certain extent but we are not complaining because you got to play in the wicket you are given. At the end of the day, it is the same for both the sides," Shah, who was declared man-of-the-match for his 38-ball 39 on Monday, told reporters.

"The score we posted today and the fact that we bowled them out under 100 runs proves that the wicket is not batting friendly. Obviously, in Twenty20 cricket spectators want to see sixes and fours but the pitch here is not tailor-made for stroke-making.

"To add to that, we were not consistent enough with the bat in the tournament. We got starts but couldn't continue with it," he said.