Indian Premier League: Sarfaraz Khan's Late Flurry Proved Crucial For Royal Challengers Bangalore, Says David Warner

David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain, feels the late flurry by young Sarfaraz Khan in death overs proved crucial as Royal Challenger Bangalore notched up a 45-run win in their Indian Premier League match. (Sarfaraz Khan, Royal Challengers Bangalore's Teenaged Star, Impresses Shane Watson in IPL)

Warner also praised Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers for their 157-run stand. (IPL 2016: David Warner's 50 in Vain as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers Power Royal Challengers Bangalore to 45-Run Win Over Sunrisers Hyderabad)

"They (Kohli and AB) played fantastic and the innings at the end (by Sarfaraz) was crucial one for them to romp home," he told reporters at the post-match press conference at Chinnaswamy stadium here.

Warner praised Sarfaraz for taking the game away from the visitors with his array of strokes, and also blamed himself for not speaking to the bowler to make amends when the RCB lad smashed 28 runs in the 19th over.

"We know how he (Sarfaraz) plays. He got four full-tosses and that works in his favour. I am not putting blame on anyone, may be we could have changed the pace a little bit, not bowl same balls, but it was my fault as well, I should have been speaking to the bowler," he said.

Warner said because of Ashish Nehra's absence early on, he wanted to use Mustafizur Rahman in death overs, but Sarafraz sabotaged the plan.

"I couldn't do that because a bowler (Nehra) went down, and that really hurts and makes you think on your feets. I tried to work out what I am going to do in last six overs, but we got a wicket which helped us a little bit, but Sarfaraz came in and played a fantastic knock," he said.

"The only disappointing thing for me was a bowler went down and then in last four overs, they got 63 runs and one of those overs went for 28 runs. We didn't execute our plans as we wanted to, but obviously we have to try and take positives out of it," he added.

On chasing down a 228-run target, Warner said at least one among the top four batsman needed to get a century, but they could not materialise because of losing wickets in clutch after his departure.

"I put my hand up - and it was required at least one of us among top four batters gets a hundred, but none of us were able to do that, and lost wickets in a clutch. We had a great start, but after my dismissal in 9th over, the run-rate increased and it became hard for incumbent batsmen to cope with the pressure," he said.

On sending Eoin Morgan at Number Six, Warner said the team needed someone like him to finish off the game, but that could not happen as the batters failed to draft a good partnership.

"I wanted Morg for the last ten overs. Morg is a good finisher and we needed this today. If we had two batsmen going great guns, we could have had a close finish," he said.

'RCB's fielding was good'

Asked what was the other reason for RCB winning the game, Warner said apart from their batters, their fielding did wonders for them.

"When two world class players (Kohli and AB) are going great guns, it is a very very tough ask to stop them. The boundaries here are very short which becomes very difficult for bowlers, but I am not taking any credit away from Bangalore, they played very well, and importantly fielded very well in first six overs. I feel the best fielding side is going to win the competition," he said.

On English player James Taylor's forced retirement due to a heart problem, Warner wished his speedy recovery and hoped he keeps himself involved in the game that he loves.

"I saw the tweet today it is a very sad news. I spoke to Morgs before. It was all-of-a-sudden thing. We know how determined he was to play the game. We know how well he played for England.

"My thoughts are with him and with rest of his team. I wish him speedy recovery and hope somehow he keeps himself involved in the game that he loves," he said.