Sunrisers Hyderabad Lost to Mumbai Indians Because of Me: Aaron Finch

Mumbai Indians have kept their hopes alive for a playoff berth in the Indian Premier league with a convincing seven-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. Mumbai knocked off Hyderabad's 157 for three with eight balls to spare. Like a good team man, Sunrisers' Aussie batsman Aaron Finch has taken responsibility for his team's fifth IPL 2014 loss.

 

Ironically, Finch was his team's best scorer. Even as skipper Shikhar Dhawan continued his scrappy form, it was Finch who held the innings together with Australian team-mate David Warner. Finch's 68 off 62 balls against Mumbai was his second highest score in IPL 2014. His best this season has been an unbeaten 88 off 53 balls. Finch is the second Hyderabad batsman to score 200-plus runs this season. Yet, The Aussie was left a disappointed man.

Speaking to www.iplt20.com, Finch felt Hyderabad didn't put enough runs on the board and that he was responsible for it.

"I thought we should have got a lot more on the board and I take full responsibility for not getting us the target that we wanted to achieve. I should have scored heavily in that middle period and in the backend of the slog overs. It was my responsibility and I did not fulfill it. It was frustrating that I could not find the middle of the bat in the end, which held us back by 10 or 15 runs," he said.

It was only after a late charge by David Warner that took Hyderabad past 150. After the end of 18 overs, Hyderabad were scoring at less than seven a over. Warner's assault in the final two overs that took them to a respectable total. He ended unbeaten on 55 (31b, 4x6, 6x2).

Warner, who opens for Australia, has adjusted well at No. 4 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Finch says Warner has found a new 'home'. "David Warner is a quality player and has been successful in all formats of the game. He is a guy who can adapt to different things and we have seen the results that he has put on the board over the last few innings. I think Warner has found a home at No.4," said Finch.

Finch wants Hyderabad to do better. The 27-year-old feels runs mean nothing if the team loses. "I have not been in the greatest of forms lately and my statistics have reflected that. It was nice to get some runs tonight and contribute to the team with a big partnership. But it still was not for a winning cause. I would rather get a zero and win the game," he said.