After sliding to their fifth defeat in eight games against Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers coach Darren Lehmann on Saturday conceded that it was time to improve performance or risk bowing out of the Indian Premier League.
"We have to win five out of the next six games. We need to move on and hopefully Nagpur (their next match venue) will prove lucky. We have to get our act together or else we are out of the tournament," Lehmann said after his team was thrashed by 63 runs.
Blaming a collective failure for the massive defeat, their second against Mumbai Indians in a week's time, the former Australia batsman said his team conceded 30 runs more than what they should have.
"We bowled well in patches. We dropped too many catches and left too many runs to chase for the batsmen. The batting was disgraceful. I thought it was a 140-150 wicket and we gave 30 runs extra," he said.
Praising Ambati Rayudu for his brilliant unbeaten 55 off 29 balls, Lehmann said Saurabh Tiwary also played well but was a bit fortunate.
"Rayudu played well. Tiwary had some luck. We dropped him twice including once earlier in his innings. We are clicking at stages with the ball and on the field but have to click together now.
"Hope they will respond quickly, otherwise it will be difficult to make it to the semifinal," the 40-year-old coach said.
He defended the decision to start the bowling with part-timer Rohit Sharma and said it was the correct strategy against Sachin Tendulkar.
"It was the right decision but he bowled two wides. They don't go hard initially and our strategy was to do away with a couple of part timers," Lehmann said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians' West Indian import Kieron Pollard said it was the team work which helped them.
"We played as a team and came on top today. It was good to complete my quota of overs. I have not done much bowling," Pollard said after making 21 off 10 balls and claiming two wickets.
Pollard said thus far he had not got too many chances to display his worth.
"I have not been getting too many opportunities for too many overs. I got one opportunity, but it's all about the team winning. We play as a team. The other guys do their job. I get two overs and I do my stuff," the Trinidadian said.
Pollard said that playing alongside Tendulkar was simply great.
"It's an amazing feeling, words can't describe it. He's a childhood idol and India's master player. I'm trying to take as much out of this experience as possible," Pollard said.
We have to get the act together quickly: Lehmann
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